It was an historic moment as the last ever Mayor of Weymouth and Portland was sworn in.

Cllr Gill Taylor takes over the position from Cllr Kevin Brookes as mayor for the 2018/19 civic year, and will be the last mayor to represent the borough.

The borough council is being abolished next year as two unitary councils in Dorset are formed.

Weymouth's new town council will have a mayor when it is established next year.

Dozens of residents, as well as councillors, packed into the Ocean Room at Weymouth Pavilion to watch Cllr Taylor receive the official robes and chain in Thursday night's mayor making ceremony.

Speaking about her appointment and the changes facing the borough council, Cllr Taylor said: "I see this as the highest honour that can be bestowed on any resident of this borough. This makes me feel very humble.

"It will be an interesting year as the borough council will cease to exist in March 2019. It falls on me to ensure that the tradition of Mayor of Weymouth continues into the new town council. I see this as being incredibly important, I am very aware of what an important role it is.

"It also falls to us to oversee the move into a unitary authority. This will be the biggest shift in local government since 1974 when Weymouth and Portland Borough Council was formed.

"It is down to all councillors to work together in a non party political way to ensure that this transition happens as seamlessly as possible."

She added: "I love Weymouth and Portland, it is a fabulous place to live and bring up a family. I would encourage all of us not to look into the gutter but raise our eyes to the hills."

Cllr Taylor moved to the south coast in 1974 and came to live in the borough in 1979. She was first elected to the borough council in 2008 as a member for Westham West.

The mayor’s chosen charities are the Dorset Domestic Abuse Welfare Committee and the Lantern Trust. Cllr Taylor is a member of Let’s Make It, a community group that brings people together through craft, and who have made mayor’s bears which will be used to raise funds for the chosen charities.

During his retiring speech, Cllr Kevin Brookes awarded cheques to the GO Girls gynaecological cancer support charity and New-Man Prostate Cancer Support group, both of which he said are causes very close to his heart. Melcombe Day Hospital was awarded with the Ken Isaacs Memorial Rose Bowl.

Entertainment at the ceremony was provided by Let's Dance, with Maisie Sheridan singing solo before joining her fellow dance mates for a group performance.

Cllr Alison Reed was elected as deputy mayor for the 2018/19 year.