HUNDREDS of public sector jobs in the North-East have been secured.

Business Secretary Vince Cable yesterday announced that the jobs at the Department of Business Innovation and Skills in Darlington will now not move to Whitehall.

The Department for Education, which shares the offices at Mowden Hall, will also remain.

The two departments employ more than 400 people in the town, the vast majority based at the Department for Education.

Fears over the department emerged last year when officials abandoned plans to move to a new site in Darlington town centre. Darlington MP Jenny Chapman wrote to Mr Cable and Education Secretary Michael Gove over Mowden Hall's future.

Mr Cable concluded his review into the viability of the Department of Business Innovation and Skills in Darlington and Runcorn yesterday. He told staff at Mowden Hall the department would not be moved.

Mrs Chapman said: "This is the result we all wanted - I am delighted for the workers at Mowden Hall, but also for Darlington, because the decision to keep Government departments here will have a positive effect on the town.

"Mr Cable has made the right decision and I hope he continues to value work of the North-East when making other important decisions that affect Darlington jobs."

The Department for Education was given permission in 2009 to move to a purposebuilt office at Feethams.

The move was backed by One North East and the Tees Valley Joint Strategy Unit. It was reported to be crucial for local employment and the regeneration of the town centre.

Work was expected to start last year, but the department cancelled its plans because of cutbacks.

A spokeswoman yesterday confirmed there were no plans to move the department.

She said: "The Department for Education plans to undertake essential repairs atMowden Hall to allow its continued occupation.

"Regrettably, we decided we could not afford to proceed with the development of a new building in Darlington town centre during difficult economic times and staff were informed about this last year."