A STUDENT has become one of the youngest ever female mayors in the UK after taking on the role in Selby.

Councillor Rosie Corrigan who is just 21 and a student reading British Politics and Legislative Studies at the University of Hull has been named as the new Mayor of Selby Town Council.

She joined the town council in 2011 to represent Selby West, and is a formerly student at York College and member of the Selby District Youth Council, the North Yorkshire Youth Council and the United Kingdom Youth Parliament.

Cllr Corrigan said that during her year in the post she hoped to encourage children and young people to champion their communities.

One of Cllr Corrigan's first functions as mayor was presenting grants to 23 local community groups at a presentation event on Tuesday.

A council spokeswoman said: "The Town Council is proud to support local community groups and organisations that assist local residents in the Selby area.

"Most of the people working with the groups and organisations are volunteers and they all work extremely hard. This year the Town Council have spent about £32,000 on supporting these local organisations.”