THE new Mayor of the Sedgefield Borough is the first Scotsman in the post.

A former shipyard worker, Jackie Piggott grew up 20 miles north of Glasgow.

He moved to Newton Aycliffe in 1972 and joined the council in 1999.

He represents the Neville and Simpasture ward on the borough and Great Aycliffe Town Council. During his year in office he will be raising money for the cardiac unit at the James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, where he had major heart surgery, and the North-East Air Ambulance Service.