ISOBEL Hartley would be the first to admit that the traditional concept of a mayor is an imperious looking gentleman in formal regalia.

Even today, there are plenty of towns in the North-East where eyebrows would be raised at the idea of a woman mayor.

But Darlington has broken that mould, and nobody is more happy about the change than Councillor Hartley.

She is the tenth female mayor of the town, following her friend and Labour colleague Dorothy Long, in the office.

To Coun Hartley this represents a monumental move forward.

"The first woman mayor was elected in 1950. Until then, of course, it had always been men, which shows things are changing," she said.

"There are now 17 women councillors, which is a third of the total, compared with just seven women when I became a councillor in 1981, which is great."

Her rise to the position of Darlington's first citizen is a far cry from her modest upbringing in pre-war Tyne and Wear.

Coun Hartley was born in Heworth, in 1932.

She spent her first five years living in a tiny cottage, sharing just a main room and a tiny kitchen with her family.

After attending Windy Nook Elementary School, she gained entry to Jarrow Grammar School, where she was regularly selected for the relay and netball teams.

Her first job was as a dressmaker in Newcastle, and this is a skill which remains useful to her.

"Even today I make my own outfits, and with me having a poor background where everything was re-used and never wasted, I'm loathe to throw any clothes out," Coun Hartley said.

After several years as a dressmaker she decided to go to college, and studied for two years at Darlington Teacher Training College.

After working and living in different parts of the country, and raising four children, she returned to Darlington in 1967.

She soon became interested in local politics and was elected to Darlington Borough Council in 1981, serving on mainly transport, planning and licensing committees.

Her 20 years in local politics will certainly help to keep her feet firmly on the ground.

She said: "I love my work and I know my new role will be hard work, which is something every mayor says when they step down.

"But despite that, it is such a privilege and honour to be made the mayor, and one that I hope will be as rewarding as it is enjoyable."