A MAYOR came a cropper after offering her services as a charlady during a charity auction.

Councillor Linda Maddison, Mayor of Sedgefield, suffered two broken bones in her foot and a twisted ankle after slipping on grass.

The accident happened during the village's annual Proms in the Park concert, which was held in the grounds of Ceddesfeld Hall.

Coun Maddison took part in the event to raise money for her two chosen charities during her year in office: Alzheimer's Disease and the elderly of the village.

She said: "I did my opening speech and everything went well, then a couple of hours later I got dressed up as a charlady to raise money for the Mayor's charity.

"I said I would offer three hours of housework to the highest bidder, and I got £105, which was very good.

"I was just getting prepared to go back on the stage to do the closing speech, but the grass had got wet with dew and I just slipped."

Coun Maddison was helped by the village's First Responder scheme before being taken to the University Hospital of North Tees, where she received treatment for two broken bones and stretched ligaments.

Unfortunately, the man who bid for Coun Maddison's services is going to have to wait a little longer.

She said: "The town clerk has written to him to explain and it will be honoured, but it might take a little bit longer than he thought."

The concert was a sell-out, with more than 500 people attending.

It was organised by volunteers from Sedgefield Community Association, with some financial support from Sedgefield town and borough councils, and was such a success that the event is poised to become one of the annual highlights of the village calendar.