THE new Mayor of Bury was sworn in during a glittering ceremony at Bury Town Hall.

Friends, colleagues and dignitaries saw Redvales councillor John Smith take over the chains of office from Prestwich councillor Paul Nesbit.

Coun Smith (60) was first elected to the council in 1990, and has notched up more than eight years of service.

With his accession, the Smith family has notched up a civic double seen only once before in the metropolitan borough's history.

Coun Smith's wife, Stella, the mayoress, is also a Labour councillor, for Unsworth. The only previous "first couple" who were both sitting councillors were Jacqui Adler, mayor in 1987/88, and her husband, Monty.

The new "first couple" are pictured with their civic regalia.

"Our predecessors in office have established a commendable example of public service," he said, "and the mayoress and I will endeavour to follow their example.

"We are looking forward with much enthusiasm to the year ahead and to serving all our townspeople."

Coun Smith, of Ainsworth Road, Bury, is a retired chemistry teacher and has four children and one grandchild.

He is the council's spokesman on housing and has served on numerous committees, including the economic and social regeneration scrutiny panel, the standards committee, and on Bury East area board. He is chairman of governors at Woodbank Primary School, a governor at Chantlers Primary School, and chairman of the East Bury Initiative's housing theme group.

He was proposed as mayor by Tory councillor Roy Walker, and seconded by Labour member Trevor Holt.

The mayor's chaplain will be Rev Father Paul Cannon, Roman Catholic Dean of Bury, and parish priest of Guardian Angels RC Church.

Coun Smith has selected four local groups to benefit from the Mayoral Charity Appeal encompassing the Hurdles Family Support Group, the Bury Family Centre, Bury Metro Victim Support Witness Service, and Bury Hospice.

Residents are invited to the annual mayoral service which will be held on Sunday, May 26, at Guardian Angels RC Church in Bury, starting at noon.

As is tradition, the outgoing mayor, Coun Nesbit, was installed as deputy mayor after being proposed by Labour councillor Gill Campbell and seconded by Lib Dem leader Coun Wilf Davison.