THE mayoress who had to withdraw from public duty was thanked for her service at a special ceremony in Burnley town hall.

Sheila Swainston served the town for 10 months as mayoress to civic leader Peter Swainston, her brother-in-law. But when Coun Swainston resigned in March following his conviction for gross indecency in public toilets, her role also ceased.

However, stand-in mayor Coun Arthur Park paid tribute to her work, including her fund-raising efforts, and the work of Coun Swainston, when he presented Mrs Swainston with the medallion traditionally given to retiring mayoresses in gratitude of their service.

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