THORNBURY’S past mayors are to receive recognition for their service to the town.

Thornbury Town Council has launched a new scheme where former mayors will receive a special pin and thank you letter at the end of their time in office.

The scheme was the brainchild of former mayor Cllr Bob Griffin, who stood down after two years as mayor earlier this month.

He said: "When I became councillor I found out that once you have been the mayor that’s it, you don’t even get a letter of thanks. I was told no one has ever asked for one.

"Then I found out that if you have been chairman of South Gloucestershire Council you get a pin. I decided this was a nice thing to do and the town council should adopt a similar policy.

"I got it through the council’s finance and policy committee but was told that I would have to find the money because public money couldn’t be used."

The pins have been paid for by Thornbury businesses through donations to the scheme.

The new Thornbury Town Council Mayor’s pin has the town’s crest in the centre and has Thornbury Town Council Past Mayor written on it.

Cllr Griffin was the first to be presented with the pin after handing over the chains of office to Thornbury's new mayor Cllr Phyllida Parsloe.

Later this year a special ceremony will be held where as many of the former 28 mayors of Thornbury as possible will be presented with a pin.