A SENIOR councillor and former Tory group leader has been chosen to lead his local authority in the Queen's Golden Jubilee year.

David Ashton, who has served the communities of North Yorkshire for 25 years, is the county council's new chairman.

A retired accountant from Escrick, near York, Coun Ashton was a director of the Yorkshire and Humberside Development Agency for ten years and chairman of the regional assembly from 1999 to 2000.

"It is a great honour to be chairman of an authority which has such a proud record as North Yorkshire County Council. I'm particularly proud to be chairman in the year when the Queen is celebrating her Golden Jubilee," he said.

"I believe that North Yorkshire has emerged stronger than ever from a period of great change and there are even more challenges to face with the prospect of regional government."

The council is making changes to its decision-making executive body. Coun Shelagh Marshall is taking up a new position aimed at forging greater links between education and social services, while Coun Carl Les takes over responsibility for corporate affairs.