SWAPPING atoms for afternoon teas is all part of the job for the new Mayor of Warrington, Clr Brian Axcell.

The former nuclear engineering lecturer will be wearing the mayoral chains this year, becoming the 126th mayor of the town.

He took over the civic role from Clr Graham Welborn earlier this week.

His wife Irina will take up the role of Mayoress of Warrington, taking over from Clr Elaine Welborn.

Addressing assembled dignitaries and councillors at the annual council meeting on Monday the mayor said it was ‘a very great honour to be appointed mayor of my adopted home town’.

And charities and groups from across the town will benefit from fundraising on his behalf as the mayor’s charity is the Warrington Charities Trust.

He said: “At a difficult time economically it is quite likely that some groups will have greater demands placed upon them, just when finances are tight. Because of this, my chosen charity will be the Warrington Charities Trust, which links local support to local need.”

Originally from Chelmsford, the Mayor moved to Warrington in 1975 with work at the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority based at Risley.

He told councillors that upon moving to Warrington he was impressed with the surrounding countryside, something that he didn’t have in Chelmsford.

He added: “When I moved here in the 1970s, there was an infamous competition run by a local firm in which the first prize was a week in Warrington and the second prize two weeks.

“The image it presented of Warrington at the time was grossly unfair; however, no one would even think of such an insult now.”

The Appleton Liberal Democrat councillor was elected in 1991 and has previously served on the executive board.

Cllr John Joyce (Burtonwood and Winwick - Lab) was voted deputy mayor for the year.