FORMER RAF man Jim Neal from Andover has been elected as the new Mayor of Test Valley at the annual mayor- making meeting held in Andover Guildhall.

Councillor Neal, a magistrate, should have no problems explaining the borough council's complicated rules or dealing with troublesome colleagues, the gathering heard.

His proposer, councillor Martin Hatley, said that in his RAF days as a cricket umpire and scorer Jim had been judged as 'excellent' for his understanding of the no-ball rule and lbw.