A MAYOR is distributing more than 3,000 letters to households, thanking local people for their support during his double term of office.

In his letter, Mayor of Ripon Stuart Martin and his Mayoress wife, April, thank people for supporting them through their highs and lows.

Because of his popularity, Coun Martin was selected by Ripon City Council to serve two successive terms.

There was little doubting the high point for Coun Martin. That came in May, 2004, when the mayoral couple welcomed the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh to Ripon, marking the city's 400th anniversary of King James I granting of a charter to Ripon.

The couple agree that their low point came when the mayoress fell down a flight of stairs, during a civic engagement at a Ripon hotel.

Mrs Martin was detained in hospital for several weeks, but battled back from a back injury and returned to carry out her duties on crutches.

During the first year, Mayor Martin's charity appeal raised almost £12,000 to support "the youth and children" of Ripon, a pledge he made after being selected.

Some donations supported the mayoress's charity, Vamos, working to empower street children in Mexico. Others backed the mayor's Madagascan charity, helping children with leprosy, polio, TB and malnutrition.

In his current year, which ends shortly, mayoral appeal funds have supported the project to open Ripon Commmunity House, a one-stop community point in the city centre.