A DESIRE to recognise the unsung heroes of Darlington and raise plenty for local charities are just two of the aims of the borough’s new mayor.

Cllr Brian Jones recently received the chains of office from outgoing mayor Cllr Tom Nutt and has chosen the theme of Compassionate Darlington for his year in office.

Originally from Stanley, Mayor Jones moved to Darlington in 1988 after serving in the Cheshire police force during the 1960s before returning to County Durham in 1972.

He then served in Durham Constabulary, specialising as a traffic officer until his retirement in 1995.

He married wife Doris – who will be Darlington Mayoress for the year – in 1993 and from previous marriages the couple have four children between them and nine grandchildren.

Mayor Jones became a parish councillor in 1995 and was elected ward councillor of Sadberge in 2003 and has been re-elected ever since.

Mayor Jones said he will use his year in office to highlight the work of volunteers in the borough and his chosen charities are Darlington Samaritans, homeless support charity the 700 Club,St Teresa’s Hospice and Breathe Easy, which helps people with lung conditions.

He said: “I want to raise as much as I possibly can, not just because of the four charities I have chosen but because of the good people of Darlington who give up their time freely to help those less fortunate than they are.” He added: “I’d like people to look back and think we were a good mayor and mayoress; friendly, approachable, hard-working and worthy of the role.”