Darlington has a new deputy mayor and mayoress after the death of Councillor Ken Walker.
Councillor Ron Lewis, the Conservative member for Mowden ward since 1987, and his wife, Margaret, were invested with their chains of office at a council meeting on Monday. A minute's silence was also held in memory of Coun Walker.
Coun Lewis, 66, serves on the council's resources and environmental strategy committees and is a governor of Mowden Junior School.
He is a member of Darlington Rotary Club and a former chairman and president of Darlington Bondgate Round Table.
In May, Coun Lewis will take over from Coun Doris Jones as mayor.
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