FORMER Clitheroe newsagent Alan Yearing and his wife, Susan, will be the next Mayor and Mayoress of Ribble Valley.

The race was on to find a new Ribble Valley mayor after mayor-elect Frank Goss lost his seat at the local elections.

Sabden councillor Frank Goss, who was due to be sworn in as Ribble Valley Mayor next week, was the first of three Liberal Democrat casualties after losing his seat to Tory Michael Fielding by 291 votes to 393.

Leader of the council's ruling Tory group, Chris Holtom, and opposition leader Frank Dyson had a gentlemen's agreement that the Liberal Democrats would come up with a new mayor, should Frank Goss lose his seat.

Tory council leader Coun Holtom said: "I had previously agreed that if Frank Goss lost his seat the Liberal Democrats could choose the new mayor.

"I was sorry to see Frank go and I believe the Liberal Democrats have made their choice from among their ranks, namely Alan Yearing."

Former history teacher Coun Yearing, 53, ran a shop in Bawdlands, and is a former chairman of Ribble Valley Citizen's Advice Bureau.

No newcomers to civic duties, he and wife Susan were Mayor and Mayoress of Clitheroe from 1999 to 2001.

Frank Dyson said: "Alan and Susan Yearing will make an excellent mayoral team. Alan is an experienced councillor and he will do a first-class job.

"We have lost a hard-working and conscientious councillor in Frank Goss and I know it has been a great personal disappointment to him to have lost his seat and the mayoralty."

Coun Yearing said: "I am certainly looking forward to being Ribble Valley Mayor and it is an honour to be invited to take on the role."