A MUM-OF-THREE is pledging to make children her priority throughout her mayoral year.

Cllr Karen Mundry (LAB – Latchford East) will officially take over the ceremonial chains during the full council meeting today, Monday, to become the borough's 135th mayor.

She is the tenth woman to take up the role in the town, which comes on the centenary of when some women got the right to vote.

Cllr Mundry, who is a grandmother to nine, said: "It is a great honour to be mayor and first citizen of the town I love and was born in.

"I am looking forward to meeting many people from across our fantastic communities over the next 12 months.

"A particular priority for me this year is to continue to support the development of children.

"Our young people are so important to the future success of the borough and it's vital we give them every opportunity to succeed, to be healthy and happy."

Cllr Mundry first joined the council in 2002 and has served on a number of council committees, as well as being the first woman to represent Warrington on the Cheshire Fire Authority.

She previously served as a manager of children's nurseries in Latchford and is still a senior nursery practitioner working at the Cheshire Day Nursery in her ward.

Furthermore, she has volunteered with St John Ambulance for a number of years.

Cllr Mundry will be the second Mundry to be mayor, after her husband Hans fulfilled the role in 2005-06.

Her son, Jason, will be her consort supporting her in her mayoral year.

The new mayor has selected two main charities for her term – Warrington Disability Partnership and the Tim Parry and Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace.