DORCHESTER'S new mayor has said he is looking forward to representing a "vibrant and resilient" town as he was sworn into office.

Tim Harries officially took up the role of first citizen of the county town at a mayor making ceremony at the Corn Exchange.

It will be his third stint in the role, having previously represented the town in 1995 and 2004.

Cllr Stella Jones, who proposed Cllr Harries as mayor, described him as "caring, kind and generous" and a "tireless worker".

She added: "I'm sure he will bring another dimension to the office this year."

Cllr Harries praised the efforts of his predecessor Robin Potter and wife Val over the last 12 months, adding that they had set a great example for him and his mayoress Anita to follow.

He said he was looking forward to representing the town at a busy time for Dorchester.

Cllr Harries said: "Dorchester is a vibrant and resilient town which is growing rapidly.

"Our town has a lot going for it."

The new mayor acknowledged that the role was a non-political one, but said he could not resist touching on a number of matters during his acceptance speech.

Cllr Harries spoke of the "fiasco" of the failed Simons scheme at Dorchester's Charles Street and his hope that "there could now be some light at the end of a very long tunnel" for the site.

Turning to wider matters, he slammed the government's reluctance to accept Syrian refugees as "craven and shameful" and also spoke of the EU refendum on June 23 as "the most important decision of my lifetime".

Cllr Harries said he was looking forward to a year of anniversaries, with the Queen's 90th birthday and First World War centenary events.

He revealed that during his mayoral year he and Anita would be raising funds for three local charities - the Dorchester Stroke Social Club, the Dorchester Poverty Action Group and The Keep Military Museum.