POSTMAN and charity champ Councillor Jimmy Eaton took delivery of a very important honour -- the Mayoralty of Rossendale.

The man who has raised nearly £200,000 for local good causes in the Valley was praised by his proposer Coun Neil Smith who said: "I cannot think of a more fitting person for this position."

At Rawtenstall Town Hall Coun George Lee seconded the nomination, saying: "He is a man whose actions do all the talking that needs to be done."

Nearly 220 people packed the council chamber and spilled into the adjacent committee room.

Coun Eaton, who polled the most votes of any candidate in the recent all-out election, had just two weeks and three days to arrange his mayor making and invite guests to the formal meal afterwards in the Astoria.

In a moving acceptance speech he thanked all businesses, groups and individuals who had supported him in his many charity efforts.

He said: "I expect the next year to be busy -- especially as it is also the Queen's Golden Jubilee year. But I am sure with an excellent deputy Mayor in Coun Eileen Kershaw, we will cope with everything."

He thanked his wife Janet, the Mayoress, also a postman in Bacup, and spoke of the 'honour and privilege' of being made first citizen.

The couple's eight month old granddaughter Charlie Morris stole the show at the town hall with approving gurgling responses to each speech.

The civic couple have been allowed eight weeks' paid leave from the Royal Mail to carry out their duties.

Tributes were paid to the 16 councillors who are no longer members and in particular former Tory leader John Holt.

Describing him as "truly Mr Rossendale", new Conservative leader Coun Smith praised his 40 years of service as a Bacup councillor, then Rossendale councillor for Irwell ward and the new borough's first mayor.

He said: "John was the architect of Rossendale Borough Council and without him there might not have been a Rossendale."

Retiring Mayor and Mayoress Coun Jimmy Grogan and his wife Lois were thanked for completing more than 400 engagements and raising in excess of £6,000 for charity.

Coun Eaton is raising money for Breakthrough Breast Cancer and other local causes.