THE LEADER of New Forest District Council has been made chairman of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police Authority - and has vowed to deliver.

Simon Hayes, 42, pictured, was elected at a special meeting held on Tuesday. The married father-of-three will now become the eyes and ears of the public in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Mr Hayes, also a county councillor and member of the police authority since 1997, will take up his post immediately.

He said: "I am delighted to be elected chairman for the coming year, which will no doubt see increased pressure from government under their police reform agenda and we will deliver to the best of our abilities.

"We have a responsibility to the people of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to represent all our communities and inform residents of what we do and what we have responsibility for.

"We are a voice for the public on policing in the two counties and it is a responsibility we do not take lightly

"I look forward to working with the chief constable and his staff."

The authority also elected Richard Gully, independent member, to be its vice-chairman.

Three new elected members were also introduced following the local elections on June 7.