A record ten Honorary Aldermen are being appointed in Weymouth and Portland this year – a final act as the borough council disappears in April.

The majority are long serving councillors with one a retired councillor.

Thursday’s (17) meeting of the borough council approved the move and there is now likely to be a special event in February.

Cllr Ian Bruce, whose wife, Hazel, is among the list of new Aldermen told the meeting: “It’s very sad in a way that in future we won’t be able to honour people who have been here a long time because of the discontinuation of the borough council…all of these councillors have given excellen service,” he said.

The title can only be given to councillors “who had been, or were entitled to be elected Mayor of Weymouth and Portland during their term of office and who must have also served for at least ten years on the council.

The councillors, and one ex-councillor, being considered for the Alderman role are – Cllr K Brookes, Cllr H Bruce, Cllr C James, Cllr P R Kimber, Cllr R Kosior, Cllr M Leicester, Cllr P Nixon, Cllr G Taylor, Cllr M Tewkesbury, Cllr K Wheller and Dr I Roebuck.