Not far away, preparations were under way to elect a very different kind of mayor. However, in Redcar and Cleveland, a traditional mayor-making ceremony took place yesterday.

Retiring mayor Councillor Vilma Collins was praised for raising the most money in the authority's history - more than £16,500.

Taking the chains from her was Councillor Eric Jackson, who was born and brought up in Loftus and represents the town he loves. His mayoress will be fellow councillor Brenda Forster.

Watching the ceremony proudly yesterday was his mother, 93-year-old Bessie.

Coun Jackson said he hoped to use his civic year to highlight a number of tourist attractions in the area in the wake of the foot-and-mouth epidemic.

His main charities will be Epilepsy Outlook, the three community hospitals in the borough - East Cleveland at Brotton, Stead at Redcar, and Guisborough General, as well as the Tom Leonard Mining Museum at Skinningrove.

Coun Jackson, a former pupil of St Joseph's School, in Loftus, and Sacred Heart, in Redcar, began his political life through his involvement with the unions at Loftus bus depot. He was elected to Loftus Town Council in 1982 and the borough council in 1995. His main hobby is researching local history.

Paying tribute to Coun Collins and her three mayoresses - her sisters Barbara Beadman and Linda Martin and friend Chris Ruddock - Councillor Sheelagh Clarke said she was a wonderful role model for women in the borough.

The deputy mayor will be Normanby councillor Wendy Wall and her husband Michael will be the deputy mayor's escort.

Coun Collins said it had been an exhausting year but she had enjoyed every minute of it.