NEW mayor Coun Mollie Disley accepted the role of Rossendale's civic leader with a vow to be a "mayor for the people".

And tomorrow she will live up to that pledge when the traditional mayor's church procession will go from Marl Pits to the Astoria ballroom, instead of a church, for a service for all denominations and faiths.

She has been a councillor for Hareholme ward for the past 11 years and said she first decided to stand for the council because: "I just wanted people in Rossendale to see the council as ordinary people running the town for ordinary people."

The nursery nurse, who worked in a variety of primary schools all over Rossendale for many years including St Nicholas C of E, Newchurch, and Water Primary School, told a packed town hall in Rawtenstall of her pride at being selected for the civic honour.

She said: "I will be treating the post as first and foremost the people's representative.

"I will be committed to honesty and integrity and to representing all the members of the council.

"A lot of people, especially children, are confused about the mayor being a woman. "I will stand for everyone and I am hoping that my year will encourage more women to appreciate the contribution they make in all walks of life and especially in the areas traditionally associated with men.

"I want to place more emphasis on the excellent features of Rossendale and concentrate on the good things that we have."

Money collected over the year will benefit a variety of local charities and in particular those helping children, the homeless and mental health.

Coun Disley's Mayoress is her friend, Mrs Mary Lynch, a well-known member of the Haslingden community.

Outgoing Mayor and Mayoress Coun Peter Heyworth and his wife Lynne were thanked for their hard work.

The new Deputy Mayor, Coun Alan Neal, was also installed and his declaration was read out by chief executive Steven Hartley because Coun Neal can only talk in a whisper following an accident at work last year which damaged his voice box.

He is waiting for an operation which may give him his voice back.

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