A NEW Droitwich mayor has been sworn in at a ceremonial town council meeting.

Glenise Noyes, the town's previous deputy mayor, was elected to the role by town councillors and promised to serve the community well.

She chose husband Tom Noyes as her consort and said her charities for the year would be the Norbury Theatre, Young Firefighters and St Richard's Hospice.

Speaking after the meeting, she said: "I want to raise as much as I can for my charities and to promote the name of Droitwich Spa wherever I can. I've lived here for 40 years this year so I love the town - it's my home."

Coun Maureen Lawley was voted in as deputy mayor although her election caused some controversy.

Nominating Coun Seabourne for the role, which is traditionally seen as a forerunner to becoming mayor, Coun Graham Gopsill said: "Some time ago, because you Conservatives had no majority, you couldn't offer it to the opposition.

"You've now got a substantial majority and I really do think it's time that the deputy mayor and the following year mayor should be a member of the opposition."

Coun Edgar Harwood said: "Fifty years ago it was the established convention that the senior member of the council who had not previously held the office should be elected.

"A few years ago, the council in its wisdom decided to sort it on a political basis. Personally, I deplore that.

"Coun Seabourne has served this council on all of its committees and he has also done many other things for the town and it's for those reasons I would ask the council to chose carefully who they elect as deputy mayor."

Coun Lawley chose husband Don Lawley as her consort at the meeting at the Droitwich Spa Community Centre, Heritage Way.