NESTON will welcome its first junior mayor next week as part of a four year cycle with the area’s primary schools.

During their year in office the mayor and two deputies will be representing their peer group on appropriate civic and other occasions such as the Village Fair, Remembrance Day and Christmas celebrations.

The identity of the mayor has not been announced but she is a pupil at Neston Primary School and her two deputies are students at Parkgate primary and St Winefride’s Primary.

Outgoing town mayor Cllr Mike Shipman said: “As well as providing an additional link between the Town Council and the town’s primary schools, staff and pupils, the initiative will involve young people in the civic life of the town, and provide additional opportunities to deliver aspects of the National Curriculum, in particular preparing to play an active role as citizens.”

The identity of the first junior mayor will be announced before the start of the Annual Meeting of the Council on Tuesday May 16 and they will be invested at 6pm at a brief ceremony at the Town Hall.

Head teacher at Neston Primary Rob Golding said: “The four local primary schools are delighted to be involved in this new initiative and we would like to thank Neston Town Council for inviting us to take part.

“We all hope that the role will develop further over the coming years so that some of the younger members of the community can take an active role.

“You never know we may even discover a future Town Mayor.”

A rota has been created to ensure all schools will provide the junior mayor over a four-year cycle.