Councillor Rob Skoulding has become the new Mayor of March, with Councillor Andrew Donnelly becoming deputy mayor.

Cllr Skoulding replaces Councillor Kit Owen in the role. For Cllr Donnelly, it will be a second stint as deputy mayor.

He previously fulfilled the role in 2010/11 and was just days from becoming mayor in May 2011 when he lost his seat on March Town Council.

Cllr Skoulding said: “Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote for me and all the councillors for giving me the honour of becoming their mayor.

“There are so many people behind the scenes, like my 95 year-old agent Joan Mulgrew, who I’d like to thank for all their hard work. Thanks also to my family for their support.

“I would like to thank Kit (Owen) for being a very good ambassador for the town and I know it will be a hard act to follow.

“Thank you to Jan (French) for all the advice that she has given me over the years but this will not stop me getting her ‘in the stocks’ at St John’s Church fete next year, which she has managed to get away with the last two years!

“This year I’m going to concentrate on raising money for the people of March. The first fundraiser will be a stall at the summer festival which my wife Laura and children will be running with me and I would like to see as many of you as possible there supporting this great event on June 13.”

Cllr Skoulding says he is “honoured” to have Cllr Donnelly as his deputy mayor.

He said: “Andrew was a very good, reliable deputy mayor so I put him forward for the role and am honoured to have him as my deputy mayor.”