Brightlingsea Town Council has elected a new mayor and deputy mayor to serve for the next year.

Conservative councillor John Carr becomes mayor after being elected at the council’s annual meeting on Thursday, May 16, taking over from Ric Morgan. Independent councillor Mat Court was elected as deputy mayor.

Cllr Carr was brought up in Thorrington, having moved there from Kenya at the age of 10. A former professional photographer, he was elected to the town council in May 2018 and has served as a Brightlingsea Harbour Commissioner for two four-year terms.

Cllr Court, who was born and brought up in East London, moved to Brightlingsea in 2018 and was co-opted on to the council in May 2021. He runs his own marketing business.