The new mayor of Great Yarmouth has been announced.

Penny Carpenter is set to be elected to the ceremonial role at a full meeting of Great Yarmouth Borough Council on Thursday.

Ms Carpenter retired to Great Yarmouth in 2013 and now lives in Belton.

The former Norfolk Constabulary worker and her family were regular visitors to the town when they played in the Police Ten Pin Bowling competitions. 

She began to get to know the borough after becoming employed as the force's car clear officer.   

After that, she worked as crime reduction officer for Norfolk Constabulary. 

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Her political career began after she retired when a friend suggested she might like to go into local politics and she was elected to the borough council in 2015. 

Ms Carpenter said: "I believe my previous working life was in preparation to work as a councillor which is varied and every day is a new challenge.  

“I feel very fortunate to represent Caister at county level and only very recently was re -elected to again represent Caister North."

She said she was "honoured" to have been elected as the new mayor of Great Yarmouth.

"I am committed to working with my fellow councillors and the local community to ensure that our town continues to flourish and that we address the challenges we face.

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"Great Yarmouth is a wonderful place to live, work and visit, and I look forward to helping to make it an even better place in the years to come," she added.

As mayor, Ms Carpenter will chair full council meetings and help to raise money for her chosen charities, which include Marie Curie in GY & Waveney (community care), 1st Caister-on-Sea Scout Group, Caister Lifeboat and Redwings Horse Sanctuary. 

She replaces the outgoing Graham Plant and her deputy will also be voted in at the Thursday night meeting.