A MAYOR swapped his robes and chains for an apron and tea towel to serve council staff with a cuppa and biscuits.

Coun Gordon Birtwistle was brewing up for the masses to help take his charity fund to the final total of £50,000.

He has already raised £45,000 throughout his year and needs to raise £5,000 in the five weeks he has left as Mayor of Burnley.

Gordon, who was born in Oswaldtwistle and lived there for 23 years, pushed his trolley around Burnley Town Hall yesterday and offered staff tea, coffee and biscuits.

Coun Birtwistle, who ran an engineering firm in Oswaldtwistle for ten years and is a Blackburn Rovers fan, put the mayor's limo number plater HG 1 on the trolley during the day.

The mayor said: "It was fun but I wouldn't want to do it for a living. Everybody who bought a cup of tea or coffee commented on the quality and most said how good it was which made me feel quite proud of myself." The two-hour shift helped him raise £98 after he charged £1 for tea and coffee and 25p for biscuits.

He has already arranged other fundraisers including a town centre aero-bike ride in Market Square, Burnley, on April 26 from 10am-noon.

And on Easter Saturday pubs in Burnley Town Centre are holding a collection.

The mayor added: "I have loads planned because I am determined to reach the target. I will do almost anything if it means hitting the target."

Matt Boulter, information officer, said: "Its good to see the Mayor putting the "Tea" in Chari-ty. It will be interesteing to see what he is going to brew up next?"

HG 1 dates from the days when each town had its own registration letters, Burnley's being HG.