15370/2Chris Wannell has been selected as the new mayor elect for Wootton Bassett. Mr Wannell, 63, of Noremarsh Road, will take over from present mayor Susan Cooksley on May 12 at the mayor-making ceremony.

Mr Wannell, who first became a councillor in 1972, said: "My aims will be to keep Wootton Bassett as a friendly community, encourage community spirit and to get people to take part in our carnival and other events that go on in our town.

"I will also try to keep Wootton Bassett as an independent town outside of Swindon."

Mr Wannell, whose wife Audrey and daughter Heather are also town councillors, took a four year break from the council in 1995 when he became station officer at Wootton Bassett Fire Station.

Mr Wannell, who was previously mayor in 1985 and is now semi-retired, said: "It will be nice to do it again after 20 years and I think it'll be a very different job from what it was then. I didn't even have a full-time clerk at that time.

"I also intend to have a bit of fun this year and I hope others will join me in that."

In a close vote councillors chose Coun Percy Miles to be deputy mayor elect ahead of Coun Olivia Thomas.