So how well will Yorkshire fare economically this year?

Ask the man who should know - Paul Fullerton, the regional deputy agent for the Bank of England.

Mr Fullerton will be soothsaying at a breakfast meeting organised by the Yorkshire Institute of Directors at The Academy, Harrogate, on Wednesday.

It is his job to assess and report to the Monetary Policy Committee on the region's economic conditions. Mr Fullerton has held several senior management roles for Yorkshire Bank. He has also consulted for Eirecom plc and helped set up a golf supply chain business in South Africa.

Anyone interested in attending the meeting, which starts at 8am, should phone Susanne Foxley on 0113 2430152

Updated: 12:01 Thursday, January 06, 2005