THE 2015 Mayor of Okehampton's civic service and parade is planned to take place on Sunday, June 28.

Councillors discussed the date of the service at a full council meeting and decided that in 2016 the service should be brought forward to earlier in the year.

Cllr Charles Letchford said: 'The tradition always was that the mayor's service and parade took place on the first Sunday after the mayor choosing ceremony, which normally happens in May. I think we should go back to that for 2016 if we can.'

Current mayor Cllr Paul Vachon agreed, saying: 'In the last few years it has been later in the year for various reasons.

'I think it is a good idea bringing it to the first half of the year, as it is a way of introducing the new mayor to the town.'