A MIDDLESBROUGH councillor has been appointed chairman of Cleveland Fire Authority.

For the next 12 months John Jones will lead an authority of 23 members, made up of councillors from Hartlepool, Stockton, Middlesbrough, and Redcar and Cleveland.

At a meeting at Cleveland Fire Brigade's headquarters in Hartlepool, Councillor Jones presented retiring member and Hartlepool councillor Ray Waller with a farewell gift.

He also thanked last year's chairman, Councillor Brenda Forster, for her "outstanding" work.