The chain gang were out in force in Axbridge on Monday night, as dignitaries from across the county came to welcome the town's new mayor.

The traditional role of consort – the mayor's husband or wife – was filled for the mayor-making ceremony by outgoing leader Kate Browne's father, as her spouse Kevin was in America.

In her final speech, she described her year in office as an honour and a privilege and noted accomplishments like the ongoing purchase of Meadow Street car park from Sedgemoor District Council, the community allotments, last year's Showcase, Fun Day and Blackberry Carnival events, and beating the clergy in the recent Rectors vs Mayors Cricket match.

She also took the opportunity to appeal for more volunteers for next year's Pageant and King John's Hunting Lodge.

Addressing the town's main concern over the building of a new reservoir, she said: "The public consultation should start later this year after Bristol Water hear from the regulatory authorities on how to proceed.

"This has been called Cheddar 2, but the town council feels it should be called Axbridge Reservoir if it's built."

Cllr Jennifer Trotman was made the new mayor, and one of her first acts was to elect Jeremy Gall as the new deputy mayor.

In a brief speech, she chose Action Medical Research as her official mayoral charity for the year and has embarked on a series of bicycle rides to raise money for the group.

The new mayor and mother of two said: "There are those in the audience who think I have a bit of a mouth on me, but it serves me completely for public speaking.

"If you had told me a few years ago that I would be the mayor of somewhere, I would never have believed you.

"I have little idea what this year will bring for me, and I hope I will do as good a job as those before me."

She thanked the outgoing mayor for doing a great job and joked: "Not many mayors get to buy a car park."