REDCAR and Cleveland Borough Council's leader last night vowed to improve services under the authority's new administration.

Speaking at the council's annual meeting at Eston Town Hall, newly-elected Labour leader Councillor George Dunning said: "We will not let the public down.

"We recognise that there are many major issues to tackle, across virtually every aspect of council services.

"We have a strong team in place, and one of our first tasks will be to carry out a review of all structures - both political and managerial - to ensure that we achieve the best way forward for the borough.

"We are not going to make promises to improve things overnight, but I can assure people they will see changes which will be based on clearly-identified priorities, and a determination that Redcar and Cleveland will deliver quality services and play a constructive role within the Tees Valley and the wider region."

The council's new mayor is Normanby councillor Wendy Wall, who has nominated two charities to benefit from her civic year - Zoe's Place, the baby hospice at Normanby, and multiple sclerosis.

The deputy mayor is Longbeck independent councillor Mike Findley, who has joined the new administration along with independent councillor Mary Lanigan.

The mayoral investiture will be held at the Bellamy Pavilion, at Kirkleatham Museum, Redcar, on Thursday, June 7.

The council's ten-member cabinet will be chaired by Coun Dunning, with Councillor Sheelagh Clarke as deputy leader, who also takes on the role as cabinet member for culture, leisure and tourism.