FERNDOWN has welcomed a new mayor after the death of community stalwart Councillor Steve Lugg.

Cllr Lugg died of cancer in July at the age of 54. He first joined Ferndown Town Council in October 2008 and held the position of deputy mayor three times before being elected as its 36th town mayor in May.

Cllr Jean Read was made the new mayor at an extraordinary meeting of the town council on August 24. It is the second time she has held the role, having served in 2010/11.

The councillor was first elected to the town council in 1995, and has been a member of a number of committees. She currently chairs the personnel committee.

"It is a great honour to be elected as the town mayor of Ferndown again," she said.

"I thoroughly enjoyed carrying out my duties when I was mayor previously, so I am very much looking forward to being in the role again.

"Ferndown faces new challenges since my last mayorship, such as Dorset’s local government reorganisation, and it will be my priority to ensure that the needs of Ferndown and its residents are met."

Cllr Read has lived in Ferndown since 1986, when she moved from Bedfordshire with her husband Fred and young family.

She has two children, five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Until recently, Cllr Read was the chair of Ferndown in Bloom. She volunteered in the role for a number of years, and led an initiative to plant daffodils along the Ringwood Road.

She currently runs the Friday coffee morning at the Barrington Centre and is a regular member of the congregation at St Mary's Church.

Cllr Julie Robinson will serve as deputy mayor.