LONG-standing Burnley councillor Lilian Clark is to be rewarded for her service when she takes over the borough's mayoral chain in May.

Coun Clark, 66, is the current Deputy Mayor and has served on the council since she was first elected in May 1984. She will take over from current Mayor Gordon Birtwistle who has served with wife Kathleen as his Mayoress since last year.

Coun Clark, who represents Brunshaw, has been involved with various committees since her election including equal opportunities, the housing benefits review board panel and the regeneration and overview scrutiny committee. She has also been involved in Burnley Listens, the bus station task force group and the social inclusion group.

Her Deputy Mayor will be Coun John Harbour, who has served since his election in May 1991. The decisions will be announced at the next full council on Wednesday.

Coun Clark, who was born in Manchester but grew up in Rosegrove and now lives in Ayr Grove, has been married to Edwin, 68, for 47 years.

Her daughter Jacqueline, 44, of Rossendale Road, Burnley, will be her consort.

Two of her sisters, Alma and Marjorie who live in Canada, will join other family members including sister Pauline and brother Bob at the Mayor Making Ceremony on May 14.

Also there will be grandchildren Ben, 11, Paula, 12 and Jack, 7.

Coun Clark said: "I was honoured to be chosen for the role of Mayor.

"I am looking forward to working very hard for my chosen charities and to upholding the traditions of my predecessors."