BUSINESS support agency County Durham Development Company (CDDC) has helped with the creation or safeguarding of almost 3,000 jobs in the past year.

The group - the business arm of Durham County Council - also pledged to support innovation and new industry in the region to help its strong economic performance progress further.

The March CDDC board meeting was told the jobs had been created in the manufacturing and service sector, and the agency had assisted in the form of financial support and the provision of land and premises.

County councillor and CDDC chairman Albert Nugent said: "The county council established CDDC to create jobs for the people of County Durham by promoting the county as a business location and by developing business opportunities.

"As its report to the board shows, that's exactly what it's doing and I'm delighted to acknowledge another year of success for the company."

CDDC was set up to oversee job creation and prosperity for the county, by assisting the growth and development of businesses, and encouraging inward investment and business start-ups.

It has played a central role in developing schemes including Netpark, in Sedgefield, in 2004, one of the UK's leading locations for emerging technology which is expected to employ 1,000 people within the next four years.

Stewart Watkins, the agency's managing director, said CDDC had a crucial role to play in the future of County Durham, in spite of recommendations in a recent review of county council activities that the division should be wound down next March.

"With two decades of successful experience behind us, we believe that CDDC is well-placed to act as a vital link between the business community and the county council," he said.

"As a driving force behind the development of the region's leading science, technology and engineering park at Netpark, we're also acutely aware that innovation, quality and creativity are increasingly going to be crucial to economic success."

Mr Watkins said partnerships with other major economic agencies in the region, including regional development agency One NorthEast and the North East Chamber of Commerce, would also be significant in driving forward CDDC's plans.