Spennymoor Town Council has appointed Ross Hawkes as its new mayor.
Councillor Hawkes took over the chains of office from retiring Mayor Russell Ferguson, at the council's annual meeting.
The new deputy mayor is Councillor Elsie Summerson.
Coun Hawkes, who has lived in Spennymoor all his life, has chosen to share money raised for the annual charity appeal between Spennymoor Health Centre, for the minor surgery unit, and the National Meningitis Trust.
He said: "I wanted to raise money for a worthy project in the town.
"And I chose the charity, National Meningitis Trust, because I lost a nephew to the disease almost 20 years ago and know how devastating it can be."
Outgoing mayor Coun Ferguson raised cash for the Spennymoor Branch of St John Ambulance Brigade and Durham Skin Fund.
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