WELL-KNOWN politician Trevor Jones pledged to keep up the fight to get a purpose-built arts centre for Dorchester last night - as he donned the mayoral chain for the third time.

Mr Jones, who was taking over from outgoing mayor Wally Gundry, promised to 'do some good' during his third term of office.

He told people gathered at his mayor-making ceremony at the Corn Exchange that he wanted to take steps to ensure the future viability of Maumbury Rings as a tourist attraction and a facility for townsfolk.

He called on people to come forward if they had ideas for getting a new town-centre scheme off the ground.

He said: "Three times in the last 30 years local councils have tried to get a major town-centre scheme off the ground - three times the chosen developer has come back empty-handed and called the scheme off.

"If there's anybody out there who thinks they can make a go of it, we'd be delighted to hear from them."

Mr Jones chose the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance as his nominated charity for the year and said: "I'll do my best for this town, which is home to my wife Stella and I."

Councillor Gundry celebrated a 'marvellous' year in office and told people that Mr Jones would keep Dorchester high profile in all his work as a town, district and county councillor.

He said: "It's been a marvellous year for us, meeting people and doing so many things - most of which money couldn't buy.

"We will not forget the generosity of the people of this town, not only in money but in the time they spend helping each other."

Coun Gundry is totting up the totals to calculate how much he has raised for his chosen charities. He chose Cancer Care Dorset, in memory of his father and Gladys' mother, who both died of the disease, and he chose the Dorset Youth Association after getting involved in a youth club at All Saints' Church in 1961.