Hellifield Parish Council has appointed a new clerk.

She is Mary Blackwell, of Stainforth, who attended her first parish council meeting last month.

Mary took early retirement from the Yorkshire Building Society head office in Bradford after 25 years’ service and has more recently worked in the voluntary sector for The British Liver Trust. She replaces Rebecca Hill who is now clerk to Settle Town Council.

Mary said: “I am very much looking forward to working with the parish council to serve the people of Hellifield. I was surprised how wide-ranging the role of parish clerk is and how much time is given by the parish councillors. At my first meeting I was pleased to minute the fact Hellifield is to reduce this year’s parish precept by 13 per cent which is great news.”

Mary can be contacted at hellifieldpc@gmail.com.