A MURTON grandmother has taken over as chairwoman of Easington District Council.

Councillor Joyce Maitland received the chain of office from outgoing chairman Coun Bruce Burn.

Coun Maitland, who joined the council in 1995 and represents Murton East Ward, is a past chairwoman of Easington Constituency Labour Party. A former senior shop steward at Claremont Garments, in Peterlee, she served on the National executive of the Tailor and Garments' Workers' Union.

Coun Maitland has adopted Cancer Research UK as her charity. She said: "I'm really looking forward to getting involved in activities happening in the district and going out to meet people." The new vice- chairman is Charles Walker.