A NEW mayor has been sworn into office in Yate.

Cllr Martin Monk took over mayoral responsibilities at a special ceremony last Tuesday (May 17).

The town councillor, who has been deputy mayor for the past two years, took over from Cllr Ian Blair and will now chair the council. He will serve a two-year term of office and said he intended to use his position to attract more young people onto the council.

"The thrust of my mayoralty is going to be to get youngsters involved in this council," he told a packed audience of councillors and his own family at Poole Court. "By the time we come to the next council elections in four years I want to see some youngsters here ready to take over from a young man like me."

Cllr Monk, who lives in Celestine Road and represents the Yate West ward of the council, said his predecessor would be a ‘hard act to follow’.

Stepping down, Cllr Blair said: "I would like to thank all members and staff for their support in the last two years.

"It has been a very enjoyable experience. I have managed to visit all our schools and nurseries in our town which I think the children liked. Thank you for giving me the opportunity."

Former mayor and long-serving councillor Sue Walker has taken up the role of deputy mayor.