Leigh Town Council has a new chairman after an annual council meeting.

Councillor Carole Mulroney was elected at the meeting last night and succeeds former chairman Pat Holden.

Carole was elected to the town council in 2007. Over the years, she has been involved with all of the committees and events held by the council and is also chairman of the leisure, foreshore and environment committee.

Carole is involved with the Leigh Society and Heritage Centre in Old Leigh and is a gallery presenter at the National Maritime Museum in London where she talks about her Leigh Heritage.

She said: “It is a great honour to be elected as chairman of the town council. My family has many historical links to Leigh, being fisherman and local greengrocers Palmer & Sons in what is now Clements Arcade.

“Leigh is very important to me and I hope my chairmanship will see an ever continuing growth of the community spirit which already exists in Leigh and that we never lose sight of our great heritage.”

Replacing Carole as vice chairman is Caroline Parker.

She was elected to the town council in 2005 and has been chairman of the transport and highways committee for the last two years.

Mrs Holden said she was proud of the council’s achievements during her year in office.

She said: “Thank you to everyone for their support over the year, especially to Major John Carmichael for acting as chaplain to the council. I have enjoyed the year immensely.

“I wish Cllr Mulroney great success for the year ahead and look forward to continuing to work within the town council”.