THE new mayor of Hyndburn has spoken of her desire to raise thousands of pounds for charity.

Conservative Councillor Marlene Haworth, who has represented the St Oswald’s ward since 2004, will be handed the mayoral chains at a special council meeting at the end of the month.

The 71-year-old has spent the last 12 months as deputy mayor, but will now take over from Cllr Munsif Dad.

She said: “I am hoping to raise a lot of money with events for the charities that I have chosen. I’m keeping them close to my chest until the mayor-making event but there are four.

“I have picked the charities that I think are very good and a couple of them are close to my heart.”

Cllr Haworth, who lives in Cranbrook Avenue, Oswaldtwistle, is also a member of the council’s licensing and planning committees.

She would have been among the favourites to succeed Cllr Peter Britcliffe, who stepped down as leader of the opposition earlier this week, had she not been selected to be mayor — a non-political role.

Clayton-le-Moors councillor, Tim O’Kane ,will become Cllr Haworth’s deputy, it was also announced, while her close friend Dorothy Berry will be mayoress.

Cllr Dad, who was the borough’s first Kashmiri-born mayor, has raised over £10,000 for his chosen charities in the past year.

The total figure is still being calculated and will be announced next Thursday. The money will then be split between the Accrington and District Blind Society, Macmillan Cancer Support, North West Air Ambulance, and East Lancashire Hospice.

He said: “This has been an amazing experience for me. I and my family have thoroughly enjoyed it, and I will cherish the experience for the rest of my life.

“I have met some lovely people doing excellent work in the community.”

Cllr Dad said some of the standout memories were a visit to Buckingham Palace for the Queen’s garden party, and the freedom parade in Accrington last July, when soldiers from the Duke of Lancaster Regiment made their way though the town to exercise their right to march in Hyndburn.

Cllr Haworth said: “Munsif has been marvellous.”