Morecambe Bay Independent Coun Keith Budden, from Bolton-le-Sands, will become mayor in a special ceremony taking place in Lancaster's Ashton Hall, starting at noon.

Keith, 60, has represented Bolton-le-Sands since he was elected to Lancaster City Council in 1995 and has been a par-ish councillor for more than 30 years.

He attended Bolton-le-Sands Primary School and Carnforth Secondary School, before starting a career as a bus driver working for Ribble Transport in 1978. He then worked for Lonsdale Coaches, now Travellers Choice, from 1992 until 2001.

He has three children, John, Katy and David; and two grandchildren, with another grandchild on the way in a few weeks.

Since becoming a councillor, Keith has sat on, and chaired, various committees including planning, standards, and the task groups on pollution in Morecambe Bay and children and young people.

Keith said: "One of the things I'm looking forward to as mayor is meeting all the different groups in the area that I've heard so much about already. As a councillor I have always kept up with training programmes so I feel I have a broad knowledge of local issues and practices.

"I love the local area, and spend time walking in Lancaster, Morecambe Bay and Thwaite Brow woods in Bolton-le-Sands. We are very lucky to live in such a wonderful part of the country."

Keith used to play rugby for the Vale of Lune and Carnforth Rugby Clubs, and the Wigan supporter is still a big rugby fan – of both league and union.

He plans to make charity work the focus of his mayoral year and has chosen to support the Morecambe Bay Partnership, Bolton-le-Sands Pre-School and the North West Air Ambulance.

The first event to raise money for the charities will be a cross-bay walk, led by the Queen's Guide to the Sands, Cedric Robinson, on Sunday May 25.

The entry fee for the event is £5. For more details and sponsorship forms, contact the mayor's office on 01524 582070.

Keith will be supported throughout his mayoral year by his wife Heather as mayoress and by Coun June Ashworth, who will be his deputy mayor.

One of his first official duties will be to preside over the first council meeting of the new municipal year on Monday at More-cambe Town Hall, at which the leader of the city council and the members of the cabinet will be elected.