THE Mayor of Middlewich enjoyed a civic service with a difference this year.

Clr Chalky White was joined by fellow councillors and dignitaries in the civic parade and church service on Sunday which was held at Middlewich Community Church for the first time.

And Clr White said he was delighted that the service took a slightly different approach than in previous years.

He said: "It was very good. One of the downsides to having been a councillor for six years is that lots of things become 'samey' and I thought I would try to do something different.

"In this type of event you hear all the same hymns and sermons and it is not particularly inspiring, but this was just fantastic. Instead of hymns they had a band that played songs, all with the emphasis on praise. The Rev David Moore took the service that was incredibly humbling.

"He then showed us a couple of videos, one of Middlewich that was just fantastic. The other showed the work of people such as Mother Teresa and Martin Luther King and then he said that there are people in our community making history like them - it was very powerful."

He thanked everyone who attended the events particularly the Boys Brigade, whose band lead the parade, the Royal British Legion standard bearers and local brownies, guides and other volunteer groups.