LEDBURY Town Council has a new deputy mayor, and he is a familiar face, because he is a former town mayor.

A unanimous vote put Cllr Keith Francis into the deputy position at last week's full town council meeting in the Market House.

The post became vacant following the resignation of former deputy mayor, Sarah Jane Widdows, which was announced with immediate effect at a council meeting at the start of September.

Mrs Widdows, a former mayoress of Ledbury and the wife of former town mayor, Terry Widdows, had not attended meetings for several weeks, because of personal reasons.

Her resignation also opens the way for a new town councillor, to be elected either through the ballot box or co-option.

Cllr Francis, who was mayor of Ledbury in 2003/2004 and 2008/2009, was nominated for the post of deputy mayor by the current mayor of Ledbury, Cllr Annette Crowe.

Cllr Crowe said: "I am proposing someone who has a lot of experience on Ledbury Town Council and who has successfully completed sessions as town mayor."

The nomination was seconded by Cllr Martin Eager.

Cllr Francis, in accepting, said the nomination was "unexpected".

He added: "I shall support Cllr Crowe as much as I can. Thank you for your confidence in me."

One of Cllr Francis's first actions as deputy mayor was to propose a letter of congratulations to the Ledbury in Bloom team, for winning another gold in this year's competition.

He also proposed updates for the town's entrance signs, which mention Heart of England in Bloom success up to 2013, but no further.

In fact, Ledbury in Bloom has won nine Royal Horticultural Society gold medals in a row for the Heart of England in Bloom competition, going back to 2006.