THE first Liberal Democrat to be Mayor in Redcar and Cleveland since 1920 will accept the mayoral chains at a ceremony today.

Councillor Madge Moses, who represents Marske's St Germain's ward, is the first Lib Dem mayor since Alderman B O Davies became Redcar Borough Council's first citizen in 1920.

The Liberal Democrat councillor, who can trace her family tree in Marske back to 1441, will accept the mayoral chains from Councillor Norah Cooney at a ceremony in the James Finegan Hall.

Councillor Moses, a mother of six with four sons and two daughters, and a grandmother of 12, has asked her husband, George, to be the Mayor's Escort along with Coun Margaret Wilson.

Coun Moses said: "I'm very proud and privileged to become mayor and really looking forward to the next 12 months."

She said she was looking forward to having her mayoral photograph on the council's website so her children Philip, working in Kuala Lumpur, Carl in Scotland and daughter Julie, living in Spain, can view it.

Councillor Moses has chosen two local charities to benefit from events in her civic year - Zoe's Place, the children's hospice at Normanby and the Saltburn Animal Rescue Association.

Eston ward councillor Ann Higgins will be the deputy mayor, with her mother, Emily Gregory, and husband, Jim, sharing the duties of escort.