THE Mayor of Darlington has been presented with a picture of one of his predecessors by a law firm.

Blackett, Hart and Pratt Solicitors, formerly known as Steavensons, Plant and Park, donated the photograph of the son of its founder partner and former Mayor of Darlington, Francis Thomas Steavenson.

The picture depicts the former mayor in his term of office from 1883 to 1884.

It will be added to the official collection of the current mayor, Councillor Ron Lewis, at Darlington Town Hall.

Senior partner Peter Blackett said: "The Darlington part of the firm was established in 1835 by Francis Thomas Steavenson's father, Addison Thomas Steavenson.

"Story has it that when travelling by stage coach from Newcastle to London he stopped in Darlington and was so impressed with the town that he decided to stay."