THIS week marked the start of a new era as two newly-formed parish councils met for the first time.

Villagers in Eldon and West Auckland gathered after both won campaigns to have their own parish council.

The two communities made their bids to form the councils because they felt they needed more say in what happened in their villages.

In Eldon, villagers have been campaigning for their independence for more than a year and a half.

The secretary of state agreed last year to give it the go ahead and the parish council was created by Sedgefield Borough Council.

The village previously came under the jurisdiction of Shildon Town Council.

The May 1 elections saw the first time that villagers in Eldon were able to vote for their own council and Lorraine Smith, Jeffrey Smith, Ina Smith, James Fieldson, and Henry Robinson were elected.

At their first meeting on Tuesday night Henry Robinson was elected as chairman and Jeffrey Smith was chosen as the vice-chairman.

West Auckland Parish Council also met for the first time on Tuesday evening in the Methodist Church.

The slightly bigger parish needed 12 councillors to create the authority. As only 12 people came forward there was no need for an election.

John Ferguson was elected as the first chairman with Hazel Charlton as vice-chairman.

The rest of the council are Lynn Reilly, Jack Bell, John Niven, Andy Turner, Martyn Roberts, Jim Palfreman, Ed Farrow, Colin Maires and Michael Stock.

Councillor John Ferguson said that it had been his dream for the village to have its own council.

The village had previously come under Wear Valley District Council.

He said: "It gives me great pleasure to be elected as the first chairman of West Auckland Parish Council.

"This has been a vision of mine for many many years.

"When quite a few residents expressed a desire as well to have a parish council we formed a steering committee and we were pleased to take it forward."