Being a millennium mayor for the county town of Essex is an honour to which Michael Mackrory looks forward with pride.

As voters confirmed his status as a councillor for the Springfield North seat on Chelmsford Council on Thursday, he only has to wait for the annual meeting where his new role will be rubberstamped.

The Liberal Democrat held on to his seat with 632 votes alongside his colleagues Pamela and Bill Lane, outgoing mayor and mayoress of Chelmsford, also in the same ward.

Speaking after the borough elections, Mr Mackrory said he was looking forward to the forthcoming year.

"It is going to be a busy year," he said.

"If the council chooses to elect me as mayor, I will certainly look forward to it. My year as deputy mayor to Bill Lane has been a great training opportunity for me for the coming year."

Mr Mackrory said he comiserated with fellow Liberal Democrats who had lost their seats, including husband and wife Robert and Ros Webb in Springfield South.

"It is so very disappointing for them and for the group because they were both hard-working councillors."

In all, it was glum picture for the Lib Dems after they lost four seats and overall control of the borough council, making it a hung authority.

The Lib Dems now have 28 seats on the council and have pledged to push for administration of the authority.

Labour, which has five seats, could hold the key to power. The group has not ruled out the possibility of an alliance.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.