Frome has a new mayor with the former deputy, Cllr Anita Collier, being welcomed to the post with a unanimous vote at the town's Annual General Meeting.

The new Mayor and her Deputy didn't waste any time - and have already asked for a meeting with the local police to discuss drugs and crime in Frome.

The former Mayor Cllr Mark Dorrington told a virtual meeting his year had been "great" and thanked all the town council staff, and councillors, revealing that 13 of them were new in post when he took over.

During a meeting broadcast on You Tube, he told them he had attended over 120 events over the past year and had thoroughly enjoyed his time in office.

He proposed his deputy as the new Mayor, telling Cllr Collier:" I hope you enjoy it as much I have done."

Cllr Collier responded and said: " Thank you Mark for being a great mentor. You have been fantastic over the last 12 months. You are leaving me very big shoes to fill."

Cllr Collier proposed that Cllr Andy Wrintmore as her Deputy Mayor, a decision also agreed unanimously.

At the end of the virtual AGM the Deputy Mayor asked for a meeting with Sgt Rachel Clark about "drugs and crime" in Frome which she accepted, saying they will chat soon.

The chains of office will be formally handed over tomorrow (May 21) in a socially distanced and safe way.

The AGM had a busy agenda including a report from the Friends of the River Frome - which showed a ten year strategy for the river - a report on Nub News tomorrow ( May 21) - and then took questions from the public.

The first question dealt with by the new mayor was about rumours that all funding from Frome Town Council to charities and organisations has, due to the coronavirus pandemic, been frozen.

The council reported that this is not the case' that all existing funding will be honoured. However Frome Town Council has asked all those who have been given money how they will re-purpose this money now all face to face charitable work has now had to end. There will be funding applications in the coming autumn.

In terms of cost of the coronavirus pandemic, councillors were told that Frome Town Council expects to have a shortfall, but that they have approached Mendip Town Council in order to access money that has been promised to local councils from central government.

On April 28 Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick announced councils across the UK will be given £1.6 billion in additional funding to deal with the immediate impacts of coronavirus.

However Mendip District Councillor John Clarke told the meeting, that when he had approached Mendip's Corporate Finance Advisor Paul Deal about getting additional funding, he was told Frome would need to show real "financial distress" in order to access the funds.