Coun Cliffe previously held the post in 1979/80 and 97/98, also acting as consort to her late husband Ray when he assumed the role in 1975/76 and 1991/92.

Current mayor Coun Jane Kingman-Pauley will officially hand over the chains at the council's annual meeting on Tuesday, May 13, at the Corn Exchange.

Coun Cliffe's consort for the year will be her sister-in-law Cherry Cliffe, who said she is honoured to be given the role.

Coun Cliffe said: "I have done it twice before and been Ray's consort twice, so if I don't get it right this time I never will.

"I'm looking forward to it because this time I will have more time to give to it."

The new town mayor will have a number of issues to deal with this year.

She says she will be keen to listen to any members of the Bourne Preservation Society which has formed to try to save Bourne Chapel from demolition.

Coun Cliffe has been involved with the listed building for some time, helping to get an altar and pews installed for services back in the late 1980s.

The council will be keeping an eye on the situation over a potential future bypass through part of the land currently occupied by Bourne Wood.

And the Bourne in Bloom committee will be hoping the town improves on its silver medal from last year when the judges come round in the summer.

Coun Cliffe said: "Last year I was picking up rubbish from round the Wellhead.

"This year we hope more people will take part in cleaning. It was the second time we had entered and we did well, but this time we want to go even better."

The annual meeting begins at 7.30pm.