Retiring vicar Raymond Burr was given a civic send-off by Coun Tracey Dixon at South Shields Town Hall just days before she stepped down too, as Mayor of South Tyneside.

Mr Burr, 65, has retired after almost 13 years at one of the borough's oldest churches, St Hilda's Church, in South Shields Market Place.

To mark his retirement, he was given a framed print of a painting by the late Tom Finch.

Coun Dixon said: "I was delighted to welcome Mr Burr to our beautiful Town Hall and present him with this lovely picture of the Market Place with St Hilda's Church in the background.

"Mr Burr has worked very hard for people of the borough, helping them find comfort in services while also liaising with the council, the community and other groups, to ensure St Hilda's, a Grade II church, has been maintained for future generations.

"On behalf of South Tyneside, I would like to thank him for all his years service in the Borough and take this opportunity to wish him a long and happy retirement."

Coun Dixon was replaced as Mayor this week by her deputy, Coun Alex Donaldson.