WILTSHIRE Council has elected a councillor from the south of the county to be its new chairman.

At its annual meeting on Tuesday, councillor Richard Britton, who represents the Alderbury and Whiteparish division, was voted in for the coming year.

Councillor Britton has represented Alderbury and Whiteparish since the beginning of the unitary authority in 2009 and before that at Salisbury District Council since 2003.

He said: “I’m proud to have been elected chairman and to be able to ensure that the voice of the south of the county is heard.

“It’s quite a challenge conducting council business with 98 very strong individuals in the council chamber, but it’s a challenge I relish. I hope to make several procedural changes during my term of office.”