THE new Mayor of Clitheroe is retired ski instructor and former Clitheroe Chamber of Trade secretary Joan Knight.

Coun Knight received her chain of office from retiring mayor Mary Robinson at a ceremony in the Ribble Valley Council Chamber.

A medical condition meant Mayor Joan Knight then led a procession to the Swan and Royal Hotel, Castle Street, in her wheelchair with Mayoress Helen Ashworth and Clitheroe Sergeant Roger Hirst.

Mayor Knight was born in Clitheroe and worked as a secretary in several local businesses, including cement firm Castle Cement, before being elected to Clitheroe Town Council in 1999.

She is also an honorary member of the Pendle Ski Club near Clitheroe.

Outgoing mayor Mary Robinson presented Clitheroe Town Awards to Simon Dawson and Sarah Bishop of Maxwell's Coffee House in King Street, Clitheroe; Gladys Sutcliffe of the Sutcliffe Theatre School, Clitheroe, and community worker Laura Bailey of Henthorn Road, Clitheroe.

The meeting heard Laura Bailey had overcome an underprivileged childhood to be a staunch community worker in several local organisations, including the Friends of Chernobyl Children, the Grand Cinema and Oxfam.

Gladys Sutcliffe had raised over £50,000 for charity from her annual theatre extravaganzas and Maxwell's Coffee House was the latest attraction in the town centre.

Mayor Robinson, known in Clitheroe as "Mayor Mary," and her consort, husband David Robinson, received medallions to commemorate their term of office.

Coun Knight said she was honoured to be mayor and named her charities as First Responders and the North West Air Ambulance.