IT was a double celebration for the Manley household last Thursday.

Carole Manley became the new mayor of Skipton on the same night her husband, John, was co-opted on to Skipton Town Council after losing out by one vote at the recent elections.

Mrs Manley has been Mike Doyle's deputy mayor for the past year. He handed the chains to her at the council's full meeting.

Mr Doyle announced he had raised £2,078 for his chosen charity, The Craven Society, and revealed he was stepping down from local politics after serving on town, district and county councils.

The new mayor revealed that any money raised during her year in office would go towards a new piece of equipment at the urology department at Airedale General Hospital, which would help locate and then treat prostate cancer.

She said she had chosen this cause as her husband had been fighting the disease for the past three years.

Mrs Manley said she had a number of fundraising ideas, such as a Skipton fun run, a barbecue and ceilidh, a businesswomen's dinner and local business competitions.

Her husband was one of five people who expressed an interest in becoming a councillor in the Skipton west ward.

Councillors voted and it came down to a tie between Mr Manley and Annabel Heseltine - the daughter of town councillors Robert and Pam Heseltine.

As mayor, Mrs Manley had the casting vote and she chose her husband.

Eric Jaquin was elected as deputy mayor.