Romsey and Test Valley both welcomed new mayors to represent the area for the coming year this week.

In traditional mayor-making ceremonies, deputy mayor Mike Richardson took over from Romsey mayor Cheryl Collier, while deputy Test Valley mayor Tony Gentle took over from mayor Jack Taylor.

After the ceremony at Romsey Town Hall, mayor Mike Richardson urged every resident and trader to play their part in proposals to improve the town centre.

He said: "It is quite clear that the centre of Romsey does matter to everybody and this will be a once-and-for-all decision.

"I would like my key objective to be participation, not just for myself, but also by encouraging many of the very able and committed people in the community to work together on the issues that face us."

He said he wanted to improve the way the council communicates with people in Romsey, and suggested one way of doing so would be to encourage more people to attend council meetings.

"I am very conscious of the honour the council has bestowed on me tonight and promise to follow a very simple guideline throughout the year, Romsey first."

Jack Taylor apologised for the embarrassment he caused by inviting the Army Air Corps to march through Stockbridge as he stepped down as mayor.

Councillor Taylor had asked the Corps to march through the village on the last day of his year in office but the event was scrapped after traders protested about plans to close the high street.

He said: "I must apologise to the Army Air Corps for the embarrassment suffered by my inviting them to march through Stockbridge. I must say, however, that I have been approached by many people of Test Valley who wanted you to exercise your right of freedom wherever you wished."

New mayor Tony Gentle announced his charities would be Andover War Memorial Hospital and Romsey Hospital.

Mr Taylor said his charities would be announced once all the money was in from his year in office.

The new deputy mayor is Cllr Pat West and Cllr Ian Carr was re-elected leader of the council with Cllr Martin Hatley re-elected deputy leader.