MAYOR-MAKING ceremonies have been taking place in town halls around the area and last night Coun Marilyn Molloy became Kendal's first citizen after five years in local politics.

She slipped on the red robes and gold chain of office to become town mayor at a special ceremony, succeeding Coun Tony Rothwell in the role.

Coun Molloy, who represents the Kendal Highgate ward, said she was "honoured" by her new appointment.

The counselling administrator for Morecambe Bay Primary Care Trust said her main aim was to encourage community participation, something that as the chairman of the Kirkland Partnership a group formed to promote the ancient area as the town's cultural quarter she knows a lot about.

"I'm very keen on involving and helping communities to work together," she said. "I would like to see more provision made for communities to help themselves."

She added: "It's a great honour to be the town's ambassador. It is such a wonderful place to live and I will enjoy promoting it."

A former South Lakeland district councillor, she has been married to husband Mike for nine years. Mr Molloy was the sub-postmaster at the famous Beast Banks Post Office that closed last year and featured in the Postman Pat books.

Coun Geoff Cook takes up the duty of deputy mayor.