LANCASHIRE's new High Sheriff faces an uphill task when she takes up her new post next week ... because she was born and bred in Yorkshire!

Gail Simpson Stanley was born in a small village between Halifax and Leeds but moved to Lancashire at the age of 18.

She has since made the county her home and believes she is well equipped to deal with any quips about hailing from the wrong side of the Pennines.

She said: "I will dismiss any jibes just like any true Yorkshire woman would. I came here to study at university, my family were raised here and I love this county."

Mrs Stanley was also given the thumbs-up from the Lancashire Dialect Society, protectors of Lancastrian language and traditions.

The High Sheriff is appointed by the Queen in her right as Duke of Lancaster. Although many of the powers of the High Sheriff have been eroded over the years, the office still has significant functions.

The High Sheriff's main duty is to protect and assist in upholding the dignity and well-being of Her Majesty's judges and to represent the Queen's executive powers in the administration of justice.

Mrs Stanley's early professional life was spent in education, but since then she has been involved in the voluntary sector. Since 1980, she has helped raise millions for research into heart disease.

She is presently a magistrate member of Lancashire Police Authority, chairman of the Professional Standards Committee and also has special responsibilities for the Independent Custody Visitors' Scheme.

She said: "There is a historical side to the position that everyone knows and which I will be proud to continue.

"But I am also thinking of ways to make it relevant to the 21st Century."

The first thing Mrs Stanley intends to do is support law and order initiatives run by members of the public and to help tackle anti-social behaviour.

"I know when I travel around Lancashire that there is a problem with anti-social behaviour," she said.

"I want to set up initiatives to tackle that problem and I want to encourage more people to take part in crime prevention schemes."

Roger Barnes, secretary of the Lancashire Dialect Society, said: "Lancashire has a long tradition of welcoming people who are for fortunate enough to be born within the county palatine.

"This especially applies to people from Yorkshire and, while it may be unnecessary for a Lancashire mon to ever visit Yorkshire, the only way a Yorkshire mon will ever see't job done reet is to visit Lancashire."