MAY is usually the month to make new mayors.

But technology upgrades have been stalled at Chippenham Council following lockdown, meaning it can't get the new Mayor sworn in.

Mayor making needs to be a public event, but IT limitations mean it can't do the ceremony online.

So Mayor-in-waiting, Councillor Teresa Hutton is biding her time.

"I've had a year of apprenticeship to the role being Deputy Mayor," she said. "And all the civic duties I had in my diary are now cancelled through until December.

"I am excited to take the role up when it is possible to do so, but at the moment everything is on the back burner."

Town council mayors perform ceremonial duties as well as leading the council. She will be taking over the reins from Liberal Democrat Mayor, Desna Allen and fitting it in around her job as a medical secretary at Chippenham Hospital where she has been for 26 years.

Cllr Hutton, a Conservative, has been representing the Pewsham ward for seven years, so her seat is up for re election next year.

Politics is a family affair for her. Husband Peter Hutton has sat on the town council since 2007, and is also a Wiltshire Council Cabinet member.

Once things go back to the 'new normal' Cllr Hutton wants to spend time with the Chippenham Youth Council.

"I am very keen to work with them. They are given their own budget, and hold meetings here at the town hall. The youth are our future, and I want to use my time as mayor to support them," she said.

"The event I was most looking forward to, and still hope it can happen, is the Youth Games at Stanley Park. Hundreds of children moving from primary school to secondary school take part and it is always great to hear what they have to say."