A SHOWMAN from one of the country's funfair families has been installed as Spennymoor Town Council's mayor.

Councillor John Culine took over the chains of office from retiring Mayor Councillor Elsie Summer at the council's annual meeting.

Councillor Christine Kennedy is deputy mayor.

Coun Culine, who became councillor for Tudhoe in 1999, said he was thrilled to take over the role and pledged to work hard to raise funds for his nominated charity, the North of England Children's Cancer Research Fund.

He said: "I am so honoured to be town mayor. I'm a Spennymoor lad and proud of it, I hope that this time next year Spennymoor will be proud of me."

Coun Culine's family has been involved in circuses and fairs for five centuries.

But he chose to settle in Spennymoor, having been born in a caravan during the 1947 gala at Jubilee Park, and he and his wife, Divinia, raised their five daughters in the town.

From 1992 to 1994, he chaired the Showmen's Guild, of which he is still an active member.

He has been on the town's gala committee for 20 years, organising the event which raises money to send local pensioners on day trips.