Dorchester’S next mayor says he will ‘celebrate what’s great’ about the town during his year in office.

Andy Canning will become mayor for the first time after more than a decade as a town councillor.

Coun Canning, who was first elected to Dorchester Town Council in 1999 and has been a Dorset West District Councillor for eight years, will take over the mayoral robes and chain from incumbent Tess James in May.

A trained economist with a background in the banking industry, Coun Canning moved down to Dorchester 15 years ago in search of a lifestyle change and now spends much of his time supporting the local Liberal Democrat party – of which he is Dorset chairman.

He said he was looking forward to the challenge of being Dorchester’s first citizen and couldn’t have chosen a better year to represent the town.

Coun Canning said: “It was something I was hoping for.

“I think when you have been on the town council for a number of years you kind of expect it will happen sometime and I was keen for it to happen this year as there is so much going on with the jubilee and the Olympics and everything.

“It’s going to be a very positive year for Dorchester. I felt it would be a good year to be mayor.”

Coun Canning, who lives in Alfred Road with his wife Mel Lane and their son, said he wants to focus on all the positive things Dorchester has to offer in the coming year.

He said: “I want to spend my year celebrating what’s great about Dorchester. I want to hear from the people of the town about acts of kindness and the positive things about why life in our town is so good.

“As part of this I want to support a local charitable cause this year.

“I’ve already had a number of suggestions but I want to hear from local people about which causes matter to them.”

To contact him call 01305 261592 or email andycanning @btinternet.com

Andy an 'excellent choice

Andy Canning, who will officially take up his post following a mayor making ceremony on May 21, paid tribute to outgoing mayor Tess James.

He said: “She has been a fantastic mayor and I think the amount of work she has put in has been really good.

“She’s really put her heart and soul into it and hopefully she will be mayor again.”

Coun James said she is looking forward to Coun Canning’s year and that he is an ‘excellent choice’.

She said: “I’m absolutely delighted. Andy is a very experienced councillor and he knows the town really well.”