THE new Mayor of Bewdley will focus her work on helping youngsters.

Barbara Stallwood, a Health Concern Bewdley town councillor for three years, put on her robes for the first time after being elected during the town council's annual meeting.

The 52-year-old mother of one already plays a part in the community as the secretary of the Bewdley Chamber of Trade - which promotes the commercial sector of the town - and as a Bewdley Chamber Maid.

She is also a member of Bewdley Twinning Association and the town's Civic Society. Her husband Mark, 53, will be Mayor's Consort.

She told the Shuttle/Times& News: "I feel honoured to have been chosen to become Mayor. It's surreal and I was not expecting it."

Mrs Stallwood explained that she planned to help everyone as much as she could and said her Mayor's charity would focus on the young people in Bewdley.

Mrs Stallwood, of Welch Gate, added: "The town and the traders have been struggling. I want to see the town flourish. I want to help the young people in Bewdley and give them something to do and somewhere to go.

"I want to work with the Guides, Cubs and Scouts. When I was a kid there was always somewhere for me to go, like Girl Guides.

"I think young people need something like that to stop them hanging around on the streets. It will make them better people."

Mrs Stallwood is working with Peter Willis, language teacher at Bewdley School and Sixth Form Centre, in a bid to link the school with a school in Vellmar, Germany, Bewdley's twin town.

She added she was passionate about the riverside town and her Jack Russell dog, Baldwin, is named after former Prime Minister, Stanley Baldwin.