A RETIRED state registered nurse and community midwife has made history by becoming a borough's first female leader.

Sedgefield Borough Council stalwart and member for Tudhoe, Agnes Armstrong, has replaced Bob Fleming as the leader of the council.

Councillor Armstrong becomes the first female leader in the history of Sedgefield, either as a district or borough council.

She will have as her deputy Coun Vince Crosby, of the Greenfield and Middridge Ward.

It is a female double as Coun Sarah Iveson was selected as mayor for the next year, replacing Coun Lucy Hovvels.

Coun Iveson was mayor of Great Aycliffe Town Council from 1997 to 1998.

As well as being a borough councillor, 63-year-old Coun Iveson has been a councillor for 12 years with Great Aycliffe Town and Durham County councils.

Her husband, Malcolm, was a previous leader of Great Aycliffe Town Council and a cabinet member for the borough.

Speaking after her appointment, Coun Iveson, said: "It is a great honour and tremendous privilege to represent Sedgefield Borough as mayor, a position I will endeavour to carry out with dignity."

Coun John Robinson, of Sedgefield, who is also a town, borough and county councillor was elected to the position of deputy mayor.

Coun Iveson's chosen charity is the Children's Diabetes Trust Fund. During her year in office, Coun Hovvels raised £12,788 to divide between the Learning Library and Little Hands, Kenya.