A TROUBLE-STRUCK council has appointed a new mayor in the same week as two further councillors have stepped down.

Ferndown Town Council voted for Lesley Dedman at their public meeting on Monday by a majority vote and Peter Oggelsby as the new deputy mayor.

Mrs Dedman gained seven votes in a secret ballot.

Last year's deputy mayor Roberta Lovett, who has deputised in the absence of controversy-struck Liz Stevens for months, gained four votes and one councillor abstained from voting.

Mr Oggelsby was the only person nominated for the post of deputy and was voted in by all councillors except one who abstained.

Outgoing mayor Liz Stevens, who on Friday attended her first official function as mayor for months after being off with stress, was not present at the meeting. She has accused councillors of "bullying" her, but these accusations have been denied.

The official mayor-making ceremony will take place in several weeks.

In a change from tradition, the event will not include the outgoing mayor.

New mayor Lesley Dedman said: "I am honoured that my fellow councillors have elected me as their mayor for the coming year."

Councillor Dedman said she would not make a formal statement of her aims and commitments for her term as mayor until the mayor-making ceremony.

Outgoing deputy mayor Roberta Lovett could not be reached for comment.

The town council lost a further two councillors this week and now has just 11 councillors and 12 vacancies to fill.

Pauline Reynolds submitted her resignation on Monday and George Russell resigned on Tuesday.

Deputy town clerk Paul Falconbridge said that both councillors had resigned for "personal reasons".

Mr Falconbridge said they would advertise for further councillors to be co-opted on to the council.

People who have lived in the parish for 12 months and are interested in applying should send a synopsis of their background and previous experience to Mr Falconbridge at the town council offices.