REDVALES councillor John Smith will be the next Mayor of Bury.

It means that the Smith family will notch a civic double seen only once before in the metropolitan borough's history.

His wife, Stella, is also a Labour councillor (for Unsworth) and will be his mayoress.

The only previous "first couple" who were both sitting councillors were Jacqui Adler, mayor in 1987/88, and her husband Monty.

Coun Smith will take over the chains of office from current mayor, Prestwich councillor Paul Nesbit, in May.

Coun Smith (60) was first elected to the council in 1990, and has represented Redvales since 1993. He has four children and one grandchild.

"It is a wonderful honour and I feel very privileged to have been selected by my fellow councillors," he said.

"Representing Bury is not something I will take lightly and I know that it will be a busy 12 months. Stella and myself are really looking forward to it and we will wear our chains of office with real pride. Following this year's mayor will not be easy but we will endeavour to do our best."

Coun Smith, of Ainsworth Road, Bury is the council's spokesman on housing. He is also chairman of the economic and social regeneration scrutiny panel, a member of the standards committee, and of Bury East area board.

He is chairman of governors at Woodbank Primary School, a governor at Chantlers Primary School, and chairman of the East Bury Initiative's housing theme group.