Dorchester'S new mayor fired a broadside at West Dorset District Council last night for failing to deliver promises and wasting money on consultants.

Coun Tim Harries launched the attack in his maiden speech as the county town's first citizen and harked back to his time as mayor in 1995 when he welcomed West Dorset's plans to consult on plans to breathe new life into the Charles Street area of Dorchester and High West Street and High East Street.

Coun Harries, who has been a town councillor for more than 20 years and is also a district councillor, said: "Charles Street - it's been a long time hasn't it?

"In the meantime, £50,000 from both the district and county councils is currently being 'invested' in a firm of consultants to tell us what our problems - and, we hope, solutions - are, with the town's traffic.

"Like the town centre, it's been quite a long time really, hasn't it?"

Coun Harries also used the speech to criticise the district council's last-minute changes to its budget and questioned where more than £1.1million of planned savings were to come from.

But he also praised some of the district council's achievements, including the launch of its recycling scheme.

He went on to laud outgoing mayor Molly Rennie and her husband John for all their work, not only in the past 12 months but for years before.

"Each mayoral couple brings its own distinctive approach and personality to the post, but what they all have in common is the tremendous amount of hard work they put in throughout the mayoral year," he said.

"Molly and John have been no exception, but I would like to acknowledge in particular the immense energy and enthusiasm that has, over the last few years, gone into opening, and helping to maintain, the women's refuge.

"Without Molly's drive, enthusiasm, unstinting hard work, sometimes sheer bloody-mindedness - together with John's steadfast support - it wouldn't have happened, and a lot of people have reason to be grateful.

"But Molly is just one of many, many councillors who have given years of service to this town, as councillors do all over the country."

Coun Harries said he and his wife Anita, the new mayoress, will be supporting two organisations this year, the Stroke Association in West Dorset and the Joseph Weld and Trimar Hospice Trust.

He added: "We know that the people of Dorchester will show their usual generosity to these worthwhile causes.

"Anita and I will do our best to be worth ambassadors for this lovely town."