THE new mayor of Ribble Valley has been appointed at a ceremony in Clitheroe.

And Coun Doreen Taylor said her appointment last night was particularly poignant because her former ward-mate from her days in Roe Lee, Blackburn, has taken over as mayor of Blackburn with Darwen.

Coun Taylor, who lives in Balderstone, has been on Ribble Valley Council for eight years.

Before that she was a councillor for Roe Lee with Maureen McGarvey.

Coun Taylor said: "I'm incredibly proud and feel very honoured to be the mayor of Ribble Valley.

"Over the next 12 months I would like to promote tourism because the area is so beautiful and tourism is essential to much of what goes on in the valley."

She said Coun Peter Ainsworth, her fellow councillor in Clayton-le-Dale, who she replaces as mayor, had given her a good idea of what to expect in her new role.

The new deputy for 2007/08 is outgoing leader of the council, John Hill.