Coun Keith Budden will become the Right Worshipful Mayor of the City of Lancaster in a special ceremony which will take place in Lancaster's Ashton Hall, starting at noon.

Coun Budden has represented Bolton-le-Sands since he was elected to the city council in 1995. He has also been a parish councillor for more than 30 years.

A retired bus driver, Coun Budden used to play rugby for the Vale of Lune and Carnforth Rugby Clubs, and is still a big fan of watching both rugby league and rugby union.

He plans to make charity work the focus of his mayoral year and has chosen to support the Morecambe Bay Partner-ship, Bolton-le-Sands Pre-School and the North West Air Ambulance.

The first event to raise money for the charities will be a cross-bay walk, led by the Queen's Guide to the Sands, Cedric Robinson, on Sunday, May 25.

The entry fee for the event is £5. For more details and sponsor forms, please contact the Mayor's office on 01524 582070.

Coun Budden will be supported throughout his mayoral year by his wife Heather as mayoress and Coun June Ashworth, who will be deputy mayor.

One of Coun Budden's first official duties will be to preside over the first council meeting of the new municipal year, which will take place on Monday, May 19, at 6.30pm at Morecambe Town Hall, when the leader of the council and members of the cabinet will be elected.