THE new mayor of Wigan borough is “excited” in taking on her new role.

Leigh West Cllr Sue Greensmith was sworn into office in a full council meeting on  Wednesday after succeeding Cllr Bill Clarke.

She has always lived in Leigh and was elected into her role as a councillor in 2009.

Cllr Greensmith said: “I am very proud and excited to have been given the opportunity to fulfil this role and I look forward to stepping into Cllr Clarke’s shoes.

“I love being a councillor and having a good relationship with residents and I look forward to continuing this work while I am Mayor of Wigan borough.”

Cllr Greensmith has been a governor of St Peter’s Primary School and Sacred Heart Primary School in Leigh for a number of years.

She also delivers home communion as a lay person with St Peter’s Church and runs a “messy church” in St Peter’s school hall which allows young families to take part in activities.

One of her roles is to select a charity to raise money throughout the year and she has choisen Derian House Children’s Hospice.

The hospice provides palliative, specialist respite and end of life care for children and young adults throughout the North West region including children and young people from Wigan borough.

Cllr Greensmith said: “I am honoured and privileged to choose Derian House as my charity and cannot speak more highly of the invaluable service they provide in comforting children and their families during the most difficult time in their lives. “

Wigan West Cllr Stephen Dawber has been elected as Deputy Mayor for the next year.

The new mayor and consort, Allen Greensmith, will attend a Civic Sunday service on Sunday May, 27 at St Mary’s the Virgin Church, Leigh

Cllr Greensmith’s first official mayoral event after the civic ceremony will be to welcome new citizens to the borough at a British Citizenship Ceremony which will be held at Wigan Town Hall on Wednesday May 30.