A councillor has been elected to serve as chairman for another term.

Cllr Chris Turner will take on the role of chairman of Beaminster Town Council for a fifth year, which is also true for vice-chairman Cllr Robin Cheeseman.

Cllr Turner and Cllr Cheeseman were nominated for the posts at the annual meeting of Beaminster Town Council on Tuesday.

Cllr Cheeseman proposed Cllr Turner as chairman and Cllr Peter Body proposed Cllr Cheeseman as vice-chairman.

Cllr Turner said: “Thank you for your vote of confidence, it humbles me to think that I am still suitable - still fit for purpose.

“Thank you very much and I hope that all of us collectively guide the council in the best interests of the town, working with our wonderful staff that keep us in order.

“Thank you very much indeed ladies and gentlemen.”

Cllr Cheeseman had said he would like to “step back a bit” from the town council but agreed to take on the role for the next term.

Cllr Turner added: “You [Cllr Cheeseman] have been a key member of council for some years now so we are very grateful for you to still be on board.

“Thank you very much indeed for accepting.”

Also at the meeting, Cllr Turner announced that two new councillors were joining, Douglas Drinnan and Craig Monks, although Mr Monks was not in attendance.

He said: “I would like to welcome Cllr Doug Drinnan, who lives in Beaminster and is involved with Mosterton Art Group amongst other things.”

Cllr Drinnan said that he had retired as a justice of the peace judicial officer and was “looking for something else to do”.