Kate Wheller was elected as chairman of the Harbours Committee at the committee's first meeting since the creation of Dorset Council.

At the start of the meeting, votes were held to determine the new chairman and vice chairman.

Cllr Wheller was voted in by six votes to three over Cllr Mark Roberts.

After she took the chair, another vote was held to appoint the vice chairman.

Cllr Roberts was defeated again by Cllr Sarah Williams after Cllr Wheller put forward a casting vote following a tie of four votes each.

The meeting was attended by the harbour masters who look after Weymouth, Bridport and Lyme Regis harbours and they shared their reports with the committee.

Cllr Roberts said: "It is incredibly important that we represent all three harbours."

Echoing this sentiment, Cllr Wheller said: "I very much welcome the idea of this being a harbours committee. They are three very, very diverse harbours. Weymouth is the biggest and busiest harbour, but that doesn't mean it is most important."