Three new appointments have been made to the board of directors at Carlisle-based construction firm Story Contracting .

Lindsey Pownall, who also has a leading role with Tesco , has been made non-executive director of the company which has its head office in Burgh Road. She also holds a non-executive directorship of the Meadow Foods independent dairy group.

Dave Prior has become commercial director, joining from the Doncaster-based VolkerRail specialist railway infrastructure company,

Helen Jameson has been appointed Story Contracting ’s human resources director. She previously held a similar role with a national charity and has worked in the same capacity within the motor industry.

Penrith-based

Ast Signs

has taken on several new members of staff.

It has appointed Jamie Lawless and Robyn Bamber to its graphic design team and has also boosted its sales division through an internal promotion and a new appointment.

Former national sales manager Natasha Brown has become sales director and Richard Wainwright has become the firm's national sales manager.

Self-catering holiday specialist, Cumbrian Cottages has appointed a new business bevelopment manager.

Anthony Bottomley now manages properties in the Lake District in a patch which extends to the west coast and includes Keswick, Workington, Whitehaven, Cleator Moor and Egremont. He started work as a travel agent when he was just 17 and has previously worked for British Airways and First Choice.

Musician Daniel McLaughlin, of Broughton Moor, has been appointed as assistant musical director for the

Thursford Christmas Spectacular

in Norfolk - a festival that attracts hundreds of thousands of people to the area.