A PARISH council has announced its new chairwoman.

Councillor Marion Jefferson will take over Saltburn, Marske and New Marske Parish Council for the year 2007-8.

Mrs Jefferson, who has lived in Saltburn since 1980, joined the council in 2003. She has two grown-up children, Lynne, who was a parish councillor between 1995 and 1999, and Neil, and has four grandsons.

She has worked in a number of care homes in Saltburn as cook/care assistant, and in the Nineties ran Marion's Plaice fish and chip shop on Woodrow Avenue, Saltburn.

Her official escort during her year in office will be another parish councillor, Joan Guy.

The vice-chairman is Councillor Ray Hensby, of Marske.