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EVIDENCE, were it needed, of the changing face of Durham reached Spectator last week.

Male grooming centre Trampas has officially opened its doors in Saddler Street, catering for those who are termed metrosexuals these days. The premises offers spray tanning and creative hair design and "intimate male waxing" - something which Spectator does not care to think too deeply about.

Trampas is based in Owengate House, which just three short years ago was the nerve centre of the North-East Says No campaign, where no nonsense businessman John Elliot plotted the downfall of the elected North-East assembly.

Spectator cannot imagine anyone less likely to be described as a metrosexual as the straight-talking Mr Elliot and, were he not so follicly challenged, one suspects this new development would be enough to make his hair curl.

SPECTATOR was despatched by his superiors to cover election night in Derwentside last week - and a fascinating night it proved too.

The Belle Vue sports centre in Consett was alive with gossip and intrigue. But at the end of a night of high tension, who won the title of most relieved candidate?

Not county council deputy leader Clive Robson, who avoided the indignity of being unseated by a Lib Dem teenager by just 77 votes, nor was it June Brown, who squeaked home in Delves Lane and Consett South by just 33 votes - the narrowest majority of the night.

It was Fraser Reynolds - who after five tough years as Lib Dem leader of Durham City Council is very much looking forward to a well-deserved political retirement when the authority is wound up next year - who breathed a visible sigh of relief when he trailed in fourth in Esh ward, a comfortable 280 votes away from having to serve another four-year term..

3:51pm Friday 9th May 2008

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