The Bishop of Durham, The Right Reverend Justin Welby, had some kind words to say about the North-East today - and they are well worth underlining.

As he was confirmed as the next Archbishop of Canterbury, he told the world that one of the hardest things will be to leave Durham. He described it as an "astonishing" part of the country, with people who are "direct, inspiring and wonderfully friendly".

"It is a place of opportunity and an even greater future than its past," he declared.

I said yesterday that it is sad for the region to lose Bishop Justin so soon because he has made a very significant impact in a short time.

But, as he begins the countdown to his departure, his very carefully-constructed words to the world's media today should not be underestimated. They amount to an invaluable advertisement for the North-East.

Those of us who have grown up here know it is an astonishing part of the country and that it has people who are inspiring and friendly. But it does no harm whatsoever for the most important cleric in the Church of England to give the North-East - and Durham in particular - such a ringing endorsement.

He will be a very hard act to follow. Indeed, we want more of the same from the next Bishop of Durham: someone who is willing to get involved in communities, make the church relevant, pull people together, and be a strong and trusted voice for the region.

And, on top of that, I hope we will continue to have an Archbishop of Canterbury who lives up to his promise not to forget the North-East.