We have opened our 22nd North East store in Billingham town centre.We have taken over the old Fast Cash unit from Park Direct Credit and stamped our own brand on the property. In addition to the usual services of Pawnbroking, Cheque Cashing, Loans Until Pay Day and Jewellery Retailing, we now sell Foreign Currency. Peter Kenyon, our Operations Director, said "Billingham is a town that we have long thought of as being suitable to expand Ramsdens in the North East. The demographics are right and the jewellery competition is low. We are pleased to have been able to promote Karen Lester to Manager, who was previously at Hartlepool, and Natalie Roberts to Assistant Manager, who was previously at Stockton. This means that we have experienced staff to develop our new recruits and to give us the best possible start. The first month's trading has exceeded our expectations."