HARTFORD Parish Council will soon be playing to a new beat thanks to the arrival of the new clerk.

Music fan Jo Aldridge, of Lodge Lane, is taking over the helm from departing Sue Wakeford and the Mid-Cheshire College IT teacher is looking forward to making her mark on village life.

Jo, who is originally from Preston, said: "I have lived in Hartford for the past 20 years and I think it is such a great place and is somewhere I am happy.

"We have good schools and a great infrastructure for getting to big cities such as Manchester and Liverpool and we have a low crime rate.

"It really feels like a safe community to live in. Where else do you have the countryside on the doorstep and lots of activities always going on?"

And 41-year-old Jo, who hopes to move forward with parish plans to secure funding for the Bradburns Lane and Parker Avenue playgrounds, plans to involve the community more with parish council activities.

She said: "I know what the parish council does to represent the views of the people who live and work in the village.

"It is an excellent time to be taking over.

"It will be such a varied job meeting lots of different people and I am keen for the summer holidays to start so I can concentrate on my new role."

Jo, who will continue with her Winsford and Hartford teaching commitments, enjoys reading, gardening and spending time with her two children.