THE Mayor of Westbury Cllr Mike Sutton and his deputy mayor, Cllr Sheila Kimmins, are to stay in office because of the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic.

Town councillors in Westbury decided at their 'virtual' annual town meeting on May 11 to not make any changes to positions.

They will not hold their traditional mayor-making until the Government ends the coronavirus lockdown restrictions on public gatherings.

The decision means Cllrs Sutton and Kimmins will spend up to another year in office. Usually, the deputy mayor is nominated unopposed and elected the new mayor.

Cllr Sutton, 72, said: "The council felt it would have been unfair to ask other people to take up new positions in the middle of this crisis. I was happy to follow their wishes and carry on as mayor."

The membership and chairmanships of all the council committees will remain the same for the time being.

Cllr Sutton added: "The council reserves the right to change these arrangements if the circumstances dictate."