A NEW Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Sedgefield are to be installed tonight.

Sedgefield Town Council has elected Councillor Linda Maddison to be this year's mayor and Councillor James Wayman as her deputy.

They will installed in their roles at a mayor-making ceremony in Ceddesfeld Hall tonight.

Coun Maddison joined the town council in 2001, to fill a vacancy generated mid-term. She is married to John, has a son Guy, and a granddaughter Jessica.

Coun Maddison worked for many years as secretary to the managing director of Tallent Engineering, in Newton Aycliffe. Both she and her husband are retired.

Originally from Darlington, she has lived in the village for 16 years and been a particular supporter and member of Sedgefield Community Association, St Edmunds Church, Neighbourhood Watch, Victim Support and Sedgefield in Bloom.

Coun Wayman is the longest serving member of the town council, having been elected in 1973. He served as the town's mayor from 1983 to 1985.

At the recent Sedgefield Borough Council elections he was returned as an independent for the village.

He has been very active in various fields of village life and has served as school governor for 31 years, first at Rectory Row school and for the last 20 years at Hardwick Primary School where he is the present chairman of governors.

Coun Wayman is an executive member of Sedgefield Community Association and is a past chairman of Sedgefield Twinning Association.

He is also a member of Sedgefield St Edmunds Church's Parochial Church Council and a trustee of the Citizens Advice Bureau. He was a member of the Sedgefield District Council from 1983 to 1995.