A NEW chair of North Yorkshire County Council has been elected to the post.

Councillor Robert Windass was elected to the post on Wednesday. He represents the Boroughbridge division on the authority and has been a county councillor since 2013.

He said: "It is a great honour to be elected as chair of the county council and I look forward to working with officers and members and all involved with the council during my year in office. I want to engage with people across the county from all walks of life, young, old, all ethnic backgrounds and all religions."

Cllr Windass’ charity for the year will be Candlelighters, which has supported more than 430 children diagnosed with cancer and their families in North Yorkshire.

The new deputy chair is Cllr Jim Clark, who represents Harrogate Harlow division and chairs the County Council’s Scrutiny of Health.