MALVERN'S new mayor is Cllr Cynthia Palmer, who was elected to the post at the town council's annual meeting on Tuesday.

Cllr Palmer, who represents the Priory ward, beat rival for the post Cllr Jeremy Thomas by 15 votes to five in a secret ballot.

She has spent the last 12 months at the deputy mayor, and takes over the reins from Cllr Julian I'Anson, who decided not to seek re-election as mayor after his year in office.

The new deputy mayor is Cllr Hannah Campbell.

Cllr Palmer has chosen Acorns Children's Hospice as her charity for her year in office.