THE chains of office for Redcar and Cleveland Council are to handed over to new mayor councillor Brian Briggs.

The Skelton ward councillor was elected at the Borough's annual general meeting.

Councillor Briggs, who will have his wife Margaret as Mayoress, will succeed Councillor Mike Findley.

He has nominated Zoe's Place, the children's hospice at Normanby and the Great North Air Ambulance as his civic charity choices.

The Deputy Mayor will be Dormanstown ward councillor Ray Goddard, who will have his wife Marjorie as Deputy Mayoress.

The Council's Leader Councillor George Dunning was also re-elected.

The formal installation of the Mayor, and the presentation of Councillor Findley's charity cheques, will be at the Pavilion, Kirkleatham Museum, Redcar on Friday, May 22.