KEIGHLEY Town Council has chosen its preferred candidate for town mayor and deputy mayor for the next 12 months.

Members voted on two nominations for each post to ‘pre-select’ the candidates for the official election on May 26.

Cllr Shabir Ahmed was selected for mayor, beating fellow nominee councillor Michael Westerman, a former Keighley town mayor.

Cllr Barry Thorne, a former Lord Mayor of Bradford during his long service on Bradford Council, beat fellow nominee Cllr Ian Dermondy for the post of deputy mayor.

Ronald Beale was co-opted onto the town council to represent the Woodhouse and Hainworth ward, after beating Emanuelle Bernandini, Janet Perkins and Martin Walker in a vote amongst councillors.