THE new Mayor of Dorchester has called it a "great honour" to be chosen to represent the county town once again.

Members of Dorchester Town Council have chosen Cllr Tim Harries to be the new mayor, his third term in office.

He will be supported by his wife, Anita Harries, who will serve as mayoress for the coming mayoral year.

Cllr Harries will replace Cllr Robin Potter, who will serve as deputy mayor for next year, following a mayor making ceremony on May 23.

Cllr Harries said: “It’s a great honour. I’m very pleased. It’s the third time for me and the second for Anita.

“It’s a lovely town and I’m very very proud to do it.”

Cllr Harries, who is also a West Dorset District councillor, has lived in and around Dorchester all his life and runs a taxi business.

He served as mayor in 1995 to 1996 and 2004 to 2005.

He took the chance to not only look forward but also pay tribute to the outgoing mayor, Cllr Potter and the mayoress, Val Potter.

He said: “He’s been brilliant. Robin and Val have both been excellent."

With the Queen celebrating her 90th birthday, the town council set to unveil a special plaque in Her Majesty’s honour for becoming the longest serving monarch and the statue of the Queen Mother set to be unveiled in Poundbury, Cllr Harries said he has lots of ideas to commemorate a very royal year.

As well as this, Cllr Harries said that he has already lined up five or six meetings with local charities to see how they can work together.

He will announce his chosen charities at the mayor making ceremony in May but he said that he wants to help more than just his chosen charities.

New Mayoress Mrs Harries said: “Dorchester is a small town that can make a big difference.

“As well as helping out our charities we want to raise the profile of other charities in the town.”

The couple also said that they would like to do some volunteering during the year.

Mrs Harries said that they also hope to promote Dorchester to other towns, with civic days and other events.

Cllr Harries said: "We want to bring the town in to support tolerance and goodwill with a theme of reconciliation.

"We want to promote the town council to the town as we’re taking on a lot as a town council.

"The staff are brilliant at the town council. We’re very lucky with the staff."