The Northern Echo has a new business editor with Mike Parker joining the paper fresh from a stint as North-East reporter for the Press Association.

During his time there he covered some of the biggest business stories in the region, including job losses at Corus on Teesside, the closure of the Black and Decker plant at Spennymoor and calls for Britain's early entry into the single currency to protect the manufacturing industry.

Prior to joining the Press Association, Mike worked as a reporter for The Northern Echo, initially in the Bishop Auckland office, and later at head office.

Educated at Barnard Castle, he started his career on the Boston Standard weekly newspaper.

Mike, (27), said: "This is a great opportunity for me. I am really looking forward to getting to know the region's businesses better and boosting the paper's coverage."

He succeeds Jonathan Jones who is staying with the paper as a part-time business correspondent.

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