A GREAT Ayton grandmother has been elected president of the women's network of the Methodist church for the Darlington district.

Mrs Mollie Locke, a well-known Methodist and local BBC broadcaster, will be inducted during a service at 10.45 at Trinity Methodist church, Whinney Banks, Middlesbrough, on Wednesday. Friends are welcome to attend and coffee will be served from 10.15.

At 2pm, Mrs Locke will lead a service when the guest speaker will be Margaret Smith, national network president for 1999-2000.

Network is a movement which seeks to enable, encourage and equip women to fulfil their calling as Christians in the church and the world. It is of Methodist origin but is becoming increasingly ecumenical.

Her district will stretch from Crook in the north to below Northallerton in the south, and from Hawes and Richmond in the west over to the coast to Whitby.

She said: "During the year, I will also work to raise funds for work overseas and at home. This year the home project is Secos - sexual exploitation of children on the streets - a project to help young women to be rehabilitated from prostitution which is run by Barnado's and social services in Middlesbrough.

"For overseas, we shall be raising awareness and funds for the work of stamping out physical and sexual violence against women and children. Last year we raised over £6,000 for the holistic cancer unit in Middlesbrough and over £60,000 for work abroad".

Speaking of her appointment, she said: "I am thrilled, but maybe have a slight feeling of dj vu. Six years ago I was made network president for England, Scotland and Wales, which took me all over the British Isles and abroad. This time it will be more local."

Although she will be busy preaching, taking meetings and leading conferences, she will still find time for her family, which includes six grandchildren