A CITY has elected its 413th mayor.

Councillor Jan Blakey, a county councillor for Coxhoe, was installed as the new Mayor of Durham in a ceremony full of pomp and tradition at Durham Town Hall today (Wednesday, May 27).

Cllr Blakey said she was honoured and privileged to be chosen and thanked her electors for giving “an ordinary person the chance to do extraordinary things”.

She will combine the role with being chairman of Durham County Council, having been elected to that role last week.

Cllr Blakey’s consort will be her husband Alan and her chosen charity for the Mayor’s Appeal will be Durham Trinity School and Sports College.

She succeeds Cllr John Robinson, who said he had enjoyed a “year of magic” as Mayor.

Cllr Bill Moir was elected Deputy Mayor, succeeding Cllr Patrick Conway. Cllr Moir’s consort will be his fellow Belmont councillor Katie Corrigan.

Also during the meeting, Peter Bates was sworn in as a member of the Mayor’s Bodyguard and Terry Carroll and Peter Chadwick were recognised for having completed five years with the ceremonial bodyguard.