A MAYOR who came under fire for using official notepaper to boost his annual civic appeal for good causes has answered his critic.

Stuart Martin, the mayor of Ripon, justified his use of Ripon City Council-headed writing paper in a statement at the latest council meet- ing.

Before making his announcement, he won clearance from a parish council watchdog that he had done nothing wrong.

An official complaint had been lodged with the city council about the use of the headed notepaper.

Councillor Martin said he did not believe he had done anything wrong in using the note paper to promote his charity fundraising.

Last year, he raised £12,000 during his first term as mayor for the youth and children of Ripon, along with Ripon Community House, a new project bringing together a one-stop-shop for a range of groups offering help and advice to citizens.

Now, in his second successive term of office, the mayor is raising cash for Ripon Community Hospital as well as the Community House project and young people's causes.

Already he has raised a further £8,000 this year, including a donation for the city's new Guide headquarters.

He said: "Following the complaint made to the council, I decided to make a statement about what I had done.

"I have done nothing wrong and am following other mayors who raise money for charitable causes during their year of office."

He felt it was quite proper to use the official Ripon City Council notepaper to promote raising money for charity.