Last updated 19:41, Thursday, 15 May 2008

WORKINGTON has a new mayor after a ceremony at the Carnegie Theatre, on Finkle Street.

On Wednesday, William Bacon took on the robes from outgoing mayor Nik Hardy and William Revell was installed as deputy mayor, replacing Mr Bacon.

The new mayor has worked as a borough councillor for Allerdale and a town councillor for Workington and Moss Bay.

Mr Bacon, a firefighter for 30 years, won a commendation for bravery in 1970 after he rescued two men stranded on a 140 ft slag bank.

He said: “This is a special occasion for myself and my wife. Workington is an area of special interest with an unusual character. It is important that you can talk to as many different people as possible. There are so few towns that are blessed with this kind of friendship. I will use my year as mayor to help as many deserving causes as possible.”

Mr Hardy described his time in office as the best 12 months of his life and said it had all passed by in a flash.

He said: “It’s been a fantastic experience and it’s been good to work with such a wonderful community.

“I’ve met groups that I never even knew about. I now know the town much better than I did before.”

Jorg Hussman, mayor of Workington’s twin town in Germany, Selm, attended the ceremony and congratulated the mayor on his election and presented him with a gift.

The mayor’s charities this year are Footsteps at the West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven, Sea Cadets and Hospice at Home West Cumbria.