ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD Libby McCollom became a VIP for a day - but could only take up her civic duties after finishing her exams.

The youngster was chosen to be Darlington's junior mayoress for a day last Thursday, with ten-year-old Lauren Turner taking on the mayor's role.

But before Libby could fulfil her civic duties, she had to sit a Sats test at St Augustine's Primary School.

However, with schoolwork out of the way, both Libby and Mowden Junior School pupil Lauren enjoyed a full day of activities.

They were accompanied on their travels by the real Mayor and Mayoress of Darlington, Roderick Francis and Isobel Hartley.

They had lunch at Walworth Castle Hotel, near Darlington, before visiting Durham Tees Valley Airport, the Alpha Radio studios and the CCTV control room at the town hall. They also had their photographs taken in the mayor's parlour before having a full tour of the council suite.

Lauren and Libby won the Mayor for a Day competition, open to all ten and 11-year-olds in the borough, by writing essays about how they would improve Darlington's multi-cultural society.