THE body working to boost regeneration and economic prospects in Darlington has made five appointments to its board.

New to the Darlington Partnership are are Durham Police Chief Superintendent MICHAEL BANKS, Learning and Skills Council (LSC) Tees Valley executive director PAM ECCLES, BILL COOK, chairman of the Firthmoor Community Partnership Board, KEN JARROLD, chief executive at County Durham and Darlington Health Authority, and DR RICHARD HARKER.

Mr Banks, 37, joined Durham Constabulary in 1987 after graduating in classics at Sheffield University. He has served in uniform policing and detective roles at Derwentside, Chester-le-Street and Easington, rising to the rank of Inspector before transferring to the Corporate development Department at police headquarters. In April, he transferred to Darlington as divisional commander.

Mrs Eccles, 48, has lived in the Tees Valley for 25 years. Prior to the LSC she worked for the Department of Employment and as director of Enterprise and economic Development for Tees Valley TEC.

Mr Cook, 72, has lived on the Firthmoor Estate for 44 years. He is also chairman of Darlington Residents Panel, chairman of Firthmoor Community Enterprise, secretary of Firthmoor Community Centre and is also a lay visitor for Darlington Social Services.

Mr Jarrold joined the NHS as a trainee in 1969, having gained an honours degree at Cambridge University. He has worked in Sheffield, Derby, Nottingham, South Tees and Gloucester.

He is past president of the Institute of Health Services Management and former chairman of the NHS Training Directorate Project Group on Management Education and Open Learning. He is a fellow of the Institute of Personnel and Development.

Dr Harker, 46, entered general practice in July 1985. He is currently chairman of the Primary Care Group, a part-time GP, an occupational health doctor and a police surgeon.

* Professor JANET BAINBRIDGE has taken over the reins of a key Government-backed initiative keeping Teesside's chemical and other process industries out in front.

The leading biotechnologist is the new chief executive of the European Process industries Competitiveness Centre (Epicc), set up by the University of Teesside and its industrial partners to encourage the region's universities to pool their resources and expertise.

* JAN SMITH has been appointed branch manager at Darlington Building Society's Bishop Auckland and Barnard Castle branches. She joined the society's Stockton branch, then had spells in Bishop Auckland and Billingham.