With a strike of the staff of office, the chamber was brought to its feet as Labour Coun John Swindells took over the chains from Coun Christine Abram.

In front of a packed chamber, including Coun Swindells's friends and family, the ritual of handing the new Mayor the staff of office, the city's seal to validate wills as well as keys to the Town Hall took place.

Coun Swindells, an avid football fan, said he hoped his last act as Mayor at the end of his term would be to toast Preston North End's success.

Coun Swindells said he had been inspired into politics by his grandmother who worked in the city as a weaver from the age of 12 and campaigned as a suffragette.

He said: "No doubt there will be toasts and the first will be to my grandmother.

"I am the proudest of Prestonians."

Welcoming the new Mayor, Labour leader Coun John Collins paid tribute to his colleague's varied interests.

He said: "He is an anorak on pop music. If you want to know who Mika is or what album the Kaiser Chiefs have done – he has even heard of the Scissor Sisters.

"It is going to be a wonderful year and I am delighted to move this motion on."

Preston Rural East Conservative Coun Neil Cartwright said: "On behalf of the Conservative group – he will make a cracking good Mayor."

As a motion was read to remove outgoing Mayor Coun Abram, glowing tributes were paid to her year as Preston's first citizen.

Coun Abram will now take up a role as Deputy Mayor.

Bill Shannon, Liberal Democrat councillor for Ingol, said: "There have been few that have given the role such panache and I think by any standards Christine has been an exceptional ambassador."

Meanwhile, a new mayor of Kirkham has been elected.

James Cameron was voted into the role at the town's traditional mayor making ceremony.

Coun Cameron was previously deputy mayor. He takes over from retiring Mayor Liz Oades.

Click on the green icon button above to hear an interview with the new mayor.

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