THE longest serving member of West Devon Borough Council has been elected its mayor for the forthcoming year.

Cllr John Hockridge, who represents the Bridestowe ward, joined the council in 1983 and has served 27 years with the authority. He has also been a councillor for Sourton Parish Council for 44 years.

Cllr Hockridge has lived in Sourton all his life and was born at Week Farm where he still lives. His grandfather moved to the farm more than 100 years ago and Cllr Hockridge is the third generation to farm on the land.

He has strong links to the farming community in Devon, particularly through the National Farmers' Union. He has been a member of the Okehampton Show Committee for more than 50 years and its chairman for seven years.

He told West Devon councillors that it was 'a great honour' to be elected and pledged to be a good ambassador for the borough.

Cllr Philip Sanders, who proposed Cllr Hockridge, said the mayor was a man of honesty, integrity and fairness and was a true gentleman. Cllr Sanders added: 'We face a difficult year ahead and we need a strong hand on the tiller, a good shepherd, and John is that man.'

It is Cllr Hockridge's second term as mayor as he took the role 18 years ago in 1992/93. His mayoress will be his wife, Margaret.

Cllr Hockridge has chosen Devon Air Ambulance and Hospice Care as his charities for the year. The deputy mayor will be Cllr Donald Horn.