SKIPTON'S new mayor is Alan Hickman, a major with the Salvation Army.

Cllr Hickman, one of two Labour councillors on Skipton Town Council, was elected to the post at yesterday's annual meeting- the first Labour mayor for the town.

His consort during his year in office, which will run until next May, when the whole council will be up for re-election, will be his wife, Marie, who is also a Salvation Army major.

He told the meeting: "I thank my fellow councillors for taking the risk in having sufficient confidence in me to appoint me to this role."