MAYOR David Blades has been re-elected for another year and has pledged to try to set up a youth council during the coming year.

Coun Blades was re-elected because of the retirement of clerk Sheila Gibbins.

It was felt that because Mrs Gibbins had been a part of the council for 26 years, a change in mayor as she left would be too great an upheaval.

Members agreed that stability would be maintained by Coun Blades staying in the role for a year. Coun John Prest remains deputy mayor.

Coun Blades said: "I would like to say what a pleasure it has been. It has been very rewarding."

He said he had been thinking about setting up a youth council for several years, and said: "Sometimes when we have made decisions, I think it would have been better if we had had some youth input.

"I would like to look at the possibility of getting some youth input into this council."

The following charities received donations from the mayor: Age Concern; Bereavement Care; Chopsticks; the Citizens' Advice Bureau; Herriot Hospice Homecare; Northallerton College; Northallerton Silver Band; the Samaritans, and the Volunteer Centre