Ponteland now has a new mayor.

Christine Greenwell, former deputy mayor, will be taking on the position of mayor from Coun. Alan Varley.

She was elected at the recent Annual Meeting of the council, held last Wednesday (May 19).

Coun. Karen Overbury was elected as deputy mayor.

Coun. Varley had first been elected mayor in May 2017, and was re-elected in May 2018, May 2019, and May 2020.

Coun. Greenwell, who represents the North Ward, was first elected as a Ponteland Town Councillor in 2013.

She has lived in Ponteland since 1996, and has helped set up groups with the Alzheimer’s Society and Northumberland Blind Association.

Coun. Overbury, who worked as a journalist for 40 years, was co-opted to Ponteland Town Council following a vacancy after the 2017 by-election.