'I was always told I should be mayor - and now I am'

The new mayor of Preston never had designs on the role herself, but one member of her family was convinced decades ago that she was destined for the chains of office - or at least that she should be.

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Sue Whittam recalls how her late stepdad, Joe, often mused about her becoming the city's first citizen, long before she even entered local politics.

"Maybe it was because I was always going on about this and that or trying to help people with things.

"But I can remember him always saying, 'Susan, I think you should be mayor of Preston,'" she laughs.

While the role was never on her radar when she did finally get elected to Preston City Council as a Conservative councillor in 2014, she hopes to use it as a way of encouraging others to think about putting themselves forward to represent their communities - especially those who are currently under-represented in local government.

"You don't get lots of young people involved - and I think it's really important, because we want everybody involved in our councils, she says.