A HISTORIAN who writes about Bishop Auckland has claimed her own slice of fame by becoming its first mayor.

Former teacher Barbara Laurie was elected when the first meeting of Bishop Auckland Town Council voted unanimously to create the role, saying it would raise the town's profile.

But she won't be rushing to adopt elaborate trappings of office. There will be no mayoral chain or robes, at least for the first few months, and the council has not yet found a permanent base in the town.

Councillor Laurie, who chairs the Bishop Auckland Town Centre Forum, has written several books about the town, and is also a Labour member of Wear Valley District Council.

She hopes to keep party politics out of town council affairs.

She said: "We are all there for the good of the town. We all want to enhance its reputation and bring economic success.

"Bishop Auckland is a tremendous place with a lot of potential and we hope the new town council will achieve great things."

The first deputy mayor is Coun Alan Anderson, a Liberal Democrat.

The council next meets at the Four Clocks Centre, on June 26.