THE new mayor of Burnley said she felt ‘wonderful’ after being able to pull on the regalia for the first time in her civic year.

Cllr Elizabeth Monk, who has represented the Trinity area of the town for almost 14 years, said she was ‘humbled’ to have been made the town’s first citizen.

MORE TOP STORIES:

She said: “I am very privileged and very humbled to have been made mayor.

“There are a lot of people who raise a lot of money for good causes in the area, and you don’t really realise it until you get out there and start meeting them.

“I’m really looking forward to it.”

Cllr Monk will spend her year supporting two charities, the neo-natal unit at Burnley General Hospital and Macmillan nurses.

These are both causes that are particularly close to the new mayor’s heart and she has also made Brenda Lambert – the wife of former mayor Tony Lambert, who died in June 2012 after a lengthy battle with cancer – her mayoress.

Cllr Monk, a carer for people with learning disabilities, said: “I was a premature baby myself.

“I was about five weeks early and I only weighed four pounds when I was born.

“ I spent 29 days in hospital.

“I actually knew Brenda before Tony through the Bethesda Church.

“I remember being a little girl and Brenda being at the church.

“Through Brenda and knowing Tony, I’m aware of the fantastic care he got from the Macmillan nurses, and that is why I’m supporting them.”

Having spent 14 years serving on Burnley Borough Council, Cllr Monk is delighted to have now been made mayor for the 2015/16 year.

She said: “It’s nice to get the honour after that length of time, it’s a very strange feeling.

“I feel wonderful that I’ve got there and very proud.

“I just wish my parents were both here to see me, but I’m sure they will be smiling down on me.”

Last year’s mayor Cllr Andy Tatchell revealed he had raised between £25,000 and £26,000 for his three charities, Pendleside Hospice, Emmaus Burnley and the Christie Hospital in Manchester.

He said: “What I’ve really noticed during this year is the unsung heroes in the borough, the people who volunteer at community centres and those who make sure senior citizens aren’t in isolation.

“As a councillor you know your own patch, but seeing this kind of thing across the whole borough was very humbling.

“There are a lot of people out there who deserve a medal for their community work.”