A COUNCILLOR secured himself a place in the history books yesterday when he become a town's first speaker.

Ken Hall was installed as Middlesbrough Council's speaker at a ceremony at the town hall, and will spend the next year carrying out the duties of the former civic mayor. The speaker's post was created to replace the civic mayor when the town gets its first elected and salaried mayor on Friday.

Councillor Hall, 49, said: "It's a new title for the job, but essentially the duties are the same. I'll be doing all I can to promote the town locally, regionally and nationally.

"I hope to be a voice for the town and communicate some of the pride I have in Middlesbrough."