ELIZABETH Hitchens can think of no better way of spending her last year as a councillor than being made mayor of her hometown Calne.

Coun Hitchens, 61, has decided not to stand for re-election next year, after 12 years of serving the local community as a town and district councillor.

She took over the role of Town Mayor from Elizabeth Watkins on Monday night at the annual mayor-making in the Town Hall.

Coun Hitchens was also Calne's mayor seven years ago and feels privileged to have had the honour twice.

"This is my last year as a town and district councillor so I'm very pleased to represent Calne as mayor and I'm more prepared for it," said Coun Hitchens of Rookery Park.

"I know what's expected of me and I'm looking forward to it and feeling very proud and privileged."

She said the town had seen huge improvements and growth since she first started representing residents more than a decade ago.

"When I started, Harris's had been demolished and there was a deep hole there in the middle of town. Nothing happened for six years.

"Now the town centre has come on in leaps and bounds and the library is literally the envy of other towns.

"Along with others I have rooted for Calne and next year I think it will be time to let some else come in who is as keen as I was when I first started."

Coun Hitchens has lived in Calne for more than 40 years.

"I feel like Calne is very much my town and it is a super place to live. I want to get out there and meet as many people as I can."

Elizabeth Watkins, who was mayor for half of last year after Chris Hughes resigned because of work commitments, was made deputy mayor.

This means she will be mayor again next year.

She was not officially invested as mayor last year because she took over halfway through the year, but became chairman of the town council and took on all the mayoral duties.

Coun Watkins, whose husband John also sits on the town council, did not want to be mayor this year because of other commitments.