At a meeting of Shildon Town Council on Monday 11th May, Cllr Matthew Burdess was elected as the town’s new Mayor – the youngest person to have ever held the position.

Matthew has lived in Shildon all his life, having attended both Timothy Hackworth Primary School and Sunnydale Community College.

His great grandfather was heavily involved in politics in Shildon, and in 2013 he followed in his footsteps when he ran for Shildon Town Council as a representative of the Byerley Ward.

Cllr Burdess’s two chosen charities for the year will be the British Heart Foundation and Cats R Us in Shildon.

Matthew takes over the role from Cllr Henry Nicholson, who raised £4,563 during his year in office – which he plans to round up to £4,600 – for Help for Heroes and the Mara Unit at Bishop Auckland Hospital.

Cllr Nicholson said, “It has been a great privilege and pleasure to represent the town of my birth as Mayor.”

Cllr Muriel Gordon was also elected as Deputy Mayor, while Cllr Allan Walker was named as Leader of the Council, with Cllr Peter Quinn as his deputy.