BURY’S new Mayor has been sworn in at an inauguration ceremony held at the town hall.

Councillor Jane Black took over the chains of office from outgoing Mayor Dorothy Gunther at the annual meeting of Bury Council.

Her husband Mark Sankey will serve as the Mayor’s consort for the coming municipal year.

Cllr Black, who lives in Prestwich and represents St Mary’s ward, said: “This is a privilege and an honour for which I am very grateful. We promise that we will carry out our duties to the best of our abilities.”

And the mother-of-two added: “Mark and I look forward in the year ahead to having the opportunity to meet many people from all walks of life and all sections of Bury’s diverse communities.

“We will support local charities, help promote local business and community events, schools, colleges, youth groups and as much activity as possible. I will seek to be a mayor for all the communities of this borough.”

The mayor has chosen two organisations to benefit in particular from the Mayoral Charity Appeal – Grace’s Place and the Manchester Jewish Federation.

Cllr Black is the seventh Jewish Mayor of Bury. A Mayoral Shabbat Service will be held at Sha’arei Shalom Synagogue, Elms Street, Whitefield on Saturday, June 9at 10.30am.

The mayor’s chaplains will be Rabbi Robin Ashworth-Steen and Reverend Steve Williams.

In accordance with tradition, Cllr Gunther and her husband Mr Michael Gunther were installed as deputy mayor and consort for the coming year.

*Mayor making pictures to follow