NEW mayor of Wilton Marjorie Whitworth fired a warning shot across the bows of Salisbury district council and Wiltshire county council within seconds of taking office at the annual mayor-making ceremony last week.

Mrs Whitworth told town councillors that, in the past few years, Wilton had "not been dealt with very kindly" by the two authorities.

She said that, while she was not very confident the town council could change this, she, as mayor, would do all she could to ensure the town was given high priority by both district and county councils and that residents' wishes would be met wherever possible.

The mayor's appeal for the coming year will centre on raising money to redevelop and refurbish the town's sports pavilion.

But she also wants to send some money to the Gurkha Development Fund, a project that helps poor people - particularly children - in Nepal.

Mrs Whitworth is one of the council's longest-serving members, having first been elected in 1983.

She has been mayor once before, in 1986, and, after a break in service, returned in 2000. She has been a county councillor and is a former chairman of the county council.

During her year, Mrs Whitworth will have her husband Brian as her consort, backed up by retiring mayor Betty Belk.

Town councillors elected Keith Male deputy mayor for the year ahead.

Mr Male joined the council in July, 2001, and is one of the youngest councillors to serve on the town council.

He told the council that, as a Wiltonian, he regarded it as an honour to be asked to serve as deputy mayor and hoped he would live up to everyone's expectations.