A BENCH and plaque has been unveiled to honour the memory of a mayor who never was.

The tribute to the life of Coun Harvey Smith was conducted near the Newton Hall Community Centre, in Newton Hall, Durham.

It was presided over by Mayor Coun Ray Gibbon, the city's first LibDem mayor since the party took power in last May's local council elections.

Coun Smith, who served as a Durham City councillor for many years and was deputy mayor, had been due to take up his role as mayor in 1982.

But when Labour took power in 1982, the party torpedoed the arrangement and put in place a candidate of their own.

Coun Smith died before the LibDems regained power and therefore was never able to take up the role of mayor.

The ceremony was attended by Coun Smith's widow, Margaret.