CELEBRATING industrial heritage and hailing a bright economic future are the new Mayor of Hyndburn's themes for the year ahead.

Coun Bernard Dawson also promised to stay outside the political fray after taking the chains of office during a ceremony at Accrington Town Hall.

Coun Dawson, who lives in Accrington, has been a Labour councillor for Peel ward for almost 20 years, apart from a one-year hiatus after losing his seat.

He is an avid Accrington Stanley fan and a keen supporter of local league cricket.

Coun Dawson is a former pupil at St Anne's RC Primary School, Holy Family RC High School and also attained a degree as a mature student at Accrington and Rossendale College.

His mayoress is Frances Molloy, a former councillor who lives in Rishton and works for the local education authority.

Conservative husband and wife team, Councillors Doug and Sandra Hayes, have been installed as deputy mayor and mayoress.

Coun Dawson, a former chairman of the economic development board, said: "I have chosen the idea of promoting our industrial heritage and our economic future as my mayoral theme.

"This will involve celebrating and conserving the strong tradition of industrial innovation for which the borough is widely renowned.

"It will also stimulate interest in our economic future as new industries take hold and we continue to diversify."

Coun Dawson said he would give full consideration to all sides if he was called on to use his casting vote, with both Labour and the Tories locked on 23 seats. He said: "In the event of the mayor's casting vote ever being called into play, it will be in accordance with natural justice, considering the mandate the new leadership has received from local people."

Leader of the Conservatives Peter Britcliffe, who took power after Independent Adrian Shurmer offered the Tories his 'qualified support', said: "I think many Conservatives have been resentful of the number of Labour mayors over the years.

"I'm pleased this is restoring it to a non-political level because the mayor is an ambassador for the whole borough, not any one party."

Retiring mayor Ian Ormerod thanked those who had contributed to his arts-themed year and a record charity fund.

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