POOLE'S new mayor Ann Stribley has been sworn into office - for the second time in her political career.

Cllr Stribley, the longest serving councillor in Poole, becomes the town's 767th mayor. She had previously served as Poole mayor in 1990, and with her latest appointment becomes only the second female councillor to serve a second term in office as mayor.

She was put forward after Liberal Democrat Jo Clements, was due to become mayor, lost her Newtown seat at the local elections.

The traditional mayor-making ceremony, held on Tuesday, also saw Cllr Xena Dion elected as Sherriff of Poole, and last year's mayor Cllr Peter Adams appointed deputy mayor.

Cllr Stribley, whose duties will include chairing all full council meetings and attending a range of civic functions, said she was "delighted and privileged" to have been elected.

She added: "I will, to the best of my ability, uphold the traditions and dignity of this great office.

"I look forward to meeting the many organisations and individuals who make Poole such a wonderful place, and to seeing the changes that have taken place since I first served as mayor."

Poole's new mayor was first elected onto the council in 1977, the year of the Queen's Silver Jubilee. She has been representing residents of the Parkstone ward for the past 38 years. During her mayoral year the two projects she will be supporting will be Poole RNLI and a patient enhancement project at Poole Hospital.

Cllr Stribley's daughter Johann will serve as mayoress for the coming year, following in the footsteps of her sister Sarah who took up the position in 1990.

A Borough of Poole spokesman added: "The newly-appointed Sherriff of Poole, Cllr Xena Dion, will support the mayor with her civic duties and responsibilities.

"She has served as a councillor for the Penn Hill ward since 2003. Poole is just one of 15 local authorities in the country to appoint a sheriff."