Denholme's mayoral chain was passed on this week at a ceremony in the village's Conservative club.

Retiring town mayor Councillor Russell Driver handed over the chain to Councillor Barbara Rayner at the ceremony on Tuesday evening. Cllr Rayner, 61, has served on the town council since 1989 and has been an active member of Denholme Voluntary Road Safety Committee.

"It was a fabulous evening and I've been walking on air since," said Cllr Rayner. "I feel very privileged to be offered the mayoral post and I want to be high profile and involved in anything and everything that is happening in Denholme. As well as road safety issues, I am also keen to see our local environment improved, and in particular, getting this village cleaned up.

"I would like to see a very much higher police presence in the village and the youth club rebuilt so that young people have somewhere to go.

"I would also like to see Bradford council put some of the things back for Denholme for all the money it takes out of the village."

Cllr Driver, 45, had held the position for the last three years. He was also town mayor in 1993-4. He said: "It's been a very eventful three years and there has been lots of confrontation on the planning side with things like Buck Park.

"It's been an enjoyable experience, especially visiting other council chairmen and mayors, attending functions and being able to put Denholme at the forefront of things, even though we are a small community."

He also paid tribute to his fellow councillors, thanking them for their support during his term in office.

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