VOLUNTEER groups and the environment will be key elements of his year in office according to Weymouth and Portland's new mayor Tim Munro.

He accepted his chain of office at the annual council meeting and mayor election last night in Weymouth Pavilion Theatre.

Mr Munro said: "During the coming civic year I intend, through the role of mayor, to acknowledge and support the huge effort that volunteers and volunteer agencies put into unselfishly enhancing the quality of life for the residents of this borough. Our community is indebted to these truly civic-minded people."

He went on to say that the big challenge was the environment and added: "We owe it to ourselves, our children and their children to protect and manage this borough.

"Some tasks are easier than others. Picking up litter and cleaning the beaches are straightforward.

"Others like protecting open spaces and preventing quarrying in sensitive areas are a little more tricky. We should not shirk our obligations.

"We have to fulfil our duty, our obligations as residents and custodians of this stretch of coast, to care for our neighbourhood, to care for our environment."

Mr Munro said council environment spokesman Councillor Doug Hollings had agreed to help him make the borough of Weymouth and Portland 'the cleanest and greenest in England'.

He also said that the two charities for his year of office would be the Boscawen Centre on Portland and the Chesil Trust which helps young or disabled people to take advantage of sailing.

Mr Munro had been proposed for mayor by Coun Margaret Leicester and seconded by Coun David Hawkins while Coun Anne Kenwood became deputy mayor after being proposed by Coun Paul Kimber and seconded by Coun Margaret Leicester.

Retiring mayor David Harris was given a vote of thanks by county councillor Brian Ellis who praised the way he had shown 'courage, commitment and serving others before himself'.

The meeting ended with a proposal by Mr Hawkins to make retiring borough councillor Les Ames an honorary alderman, Mr Munro adding that he would be proposing that Mr Ames be made a freeman of the borough in July.