CONTROL of Ribble Valley Council is now in the hands of the Tories after a cliff-hanger meeting.

And the borough's millennium mayor is "Mr Ribchester," former village publican Brian Collis.

The Tories won 19 seats on the council and the Liberal Democrats 18 at elections on May 6, leaving overall control in the hands of Longridge mayor Jim Rogerson and fellow Independent Doreen Bailey, of Chipping.

But Coun Rogerson pulled out of last night's crucial mayor-making ceremony, where committee chairmanships are decided, and Coun Bailey abstained during the all-important vote.

Clitheroe Liberal Democrat John McGowan was also unable to attend the Clitheroe meeting due to illness, giving the Conservatives a majority of two. They are now back in control of the council after a four-year break from power following elecions in 1995.

Coun Collis was publican at the Black Bull, Ribchester, for 20 years and has been chairman of Ribchester Football Club for 36. He has been a member of the Ribchester Playing Fields Committee for 33 years, 21 of them as chairman, and a borough councillor for eight.

His wife Pat, a nurse, is mayoress and the couple have two grown-up daughters, Denise and Jacqueline.

Coun Collis told the meeting he would remember the mayor-making ceremony for the rest of his life and wouldn't let the borough down.

He would be supporting charities for the blind and leukaemia research during his term of office, as well as the Scout and Girl Guide Associations.

Deputy mayor is Coun Chris Holtom, of Wilpshire, and deputy mayoress is friend Dorothy Shaw.

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