Former soldier John Elliott has been appointed as the new events technician supporting the marketing department at Gateshead's MetroCentre. He will help in the setting up, staging and management of events and activities.

Mr Elliott previously worked for St James' Security at the centre for 18 months. He said: "It will be a new and different challenge for me, but I am sure I will enjoy the varied duties and range of events that we will be organising."