EASTLEIGH has been given a new mayoral chain to reflect the town’s past.

Jewellery designers have made and donated their own version of the mayoral chain which will be used mainly on school visits and can be tried on by the children.

The item is meant to reflect the town’s interest in recycling, as it re-uses spare materials from a number of local firms, but also well-known aspects of the town’s heritage, such as its link to the spitfire which took off on its first flight from the town's aerodrome and the Eastleigh Railway Works.

Husband and wife team Simon and Elaine Burnell, of West End, from Recycled For You came up with the idea in January this year.

This followed their win in one of the categories of the Enliven fashion project run by creative industries and Eastleigh Borough Council in 2013.

One section of the chain is designed to look like a railway track, another is made using miniature metal aeroplane badges put on spitfire pilots’ uniforms manufactured in Birmingham in the late 1930s.

It is made of recycling metals donated by companies, GE Aviation in Hamble and Southampton Airport, and Mr Burnell‘s childhood home in Derby Road.

Engraving work was done by Eastleigh artist Carly Mann and by Timpson engravers on Eastleigh's Market Street.

Materials included are brass, copper and aluminium and the piece took two months to assemble.

The item was on show to guests at the borough council’s mayor making ceremony and will be on display at Eastleigh House.