THE new mayor of Kendal has expressed his pride at taking up the role after his predecessor Chris Hogg's term in office came to an end.

Cllr Stephen Coleman, 47, was officially declared mayor at a ceremony at Kendal Town Hall and was quick to set the theme for his year in office as 'helping each other'.

"Within the last six months we have already seen this principle in practice through the response of our community to the flooding in Kendal.

"Earlier this year we have also seen this through the actions of our outgoing mayor Chris Hogg in donating a kidney to his wife Rachel.

"Many people are already actively involved in helping our community in a huge array of ways, and on behalf of our town I would like to thank them for their efforts.

"I enjoy meeting people and learning about the many activities that support people's lives in Kendal and beyond – I'm sure my diary will be full of such occasions."

Mr Coleman is the elected councillor for Kendal Strickland on both Kendal Town Council and South Lakeland District Council. He has chaired the audit committee for the last eight years.

He lives in Kendal with his wife, Sarah, and they have three children, Oliver, Thomas, and Anna.

A keen Christian, he regularly assists during services at St Thomas's Parish Church in Kendal and he also works from home as an account manager for Aberdeen-based company ABB – an industrial equipment supplier.

The new mayor has also declared his two mayoral charities for his year in office. They are the Christians Against Poverty, which helps people with debt issues, and Manna House, Kendal, which supports homeless people.

Mr Coleman served as deputy to Cllr Hogg, and he was quick to pay thanks to the man he succeeds.

"He will be a very tough act to follow." he said. "I want to make my own thanks to Chris for his help, humour and encouragement.

"Chris has worked tirelessly in his year of office and I know what a challenge I have in following him."