RETIRED surveyor Bill Cavill was sworn in as the Mayor of Marlborough on Monday to take the town into an important year in its history.

Coun Cavill, who has served as deputy mayor for the past year, will be in office for the first few months of 2004 when Marlborough will celebrate its 800th anniversary.

It was in 1204 that King John granted Marlborough the charters that gave it borough status.

Coun Cavill was formally inducted by outgoing mayor Margaret Boulton, who stood down from the town council in this month's local elections but continues as the town's county councillor for another two years.

After being installed with the mayoral robe and chain, Coun Cavill told his fellow councillors and the assembled dignitaries gathered in the town hall: "You have bestowed upon me a great honour and I will do my best to be worthy of your trust and serve and promote the town of Marlborough to the best of my ability."

Coun Cavill referred to his intention to continue to work more closely with the young people of the town, a move started by Coun Boulton who introduced young people's question time at all council meetings.

Coun Cavill said he would like to see the High Street and approach roads made a 20mph zone to make the town centre a safer place for all.

He said: "I will put pressure on the district and county councils to perform their duties so that we have smoother pavements, roads properly maintained, railings painted, road signs washed.

"In fact a complete tidy up of the town so that when we celebrate the 800 years from our first Royal Charter in 2004 we will be proud to welcome visitors from around the world."

This year the council introduced new badges for former mayors and Coun Cavill presented 17 of them. The recipients including John (Jake) Seamer who two years ago was appointed as the town's only living Freeman.