BRIDPORT has a new mayor in Councillor Sandra Brown, who has changed the political colour of the office.

The Conservative councillor, who is also a member of West Dorset District Council, takes over fromLiberal Democrat Maggie Ray who has held the ceremonial office for the last two terms.

But Cllr Brown's first move as mayor-elect was to express the wish that all councillors would work together whatever their political beliefs might be.

Cllr Brown, who polled the second highest number of votes for Bridport South ward in the election, was unanimously elected last Thursday, at the first full town council meeting since the the electorate cast its votes.

Cllr Brown is no stranger to the office, having been mayor in 1999, 2000 and 2005 - although she told fellow councillors she had not expected to be so again.

She is also involved in many of the town's institutions from the Millennium Green to Bridport Museum and the New Elizabethan Singers She is joined by by Cllr Geoff Ackerman was once again elected as deputy mayor, a position he has held for the last two years.

Accepting the position, Cllr Brown said: “Thank you very much to all of you for bringing my name forward as mayor.

“I have done this job before but I certainly never expected to do it again.

“There are a lot of things that are going to happen in the next year but I hope that we all have some fun as well.”

Later in the meeting, she said: “I would like to think that whatever our political persuasions we will all work together.”

Cllr Brown will be formally appointed at the town’s mayor making ceremony, to be held on June 4 at 7pm in the Town Hall.

Cllr Sarah Williams was re-elected as leader of the town council for the third year running.