A SPORTS lover has followed in her father's footsteps in becoming town mayor.

Councillor Alice Badcock was passed the chain last week by former Mayor of Abingdon Helen Pighills.

Speaking at a ceremony in St Helen's Church on Monday night, councillor Jeanette Halliday told resident-packed pews about their new representative.

She said: "It's very fitting that Alice is in this church where she and her sister Rachel were christened, and where her parents, grandparents and great grandparents were all married.

"She grew up in the town before going on to do a degree in Swansea in sports management. She developed a love for rugby and also spends time netball coaching."

Councillor Badcock, a financial advisor whose roles as mayor include chairing Abingdon Town Council's full council meetings and representing the town on civic visits, appointed councillor Jan Morter as her deputy mayor.

Her father Mike Badcock served as town mayor twice, most recently in 2011.

This year the mayor's chosen charities are mental health charity Oxfordshire Mind and Little Troopers, which supports children with parents in the military.

Northcourt councillor Mrs Pighills advised her to "just enjoy it" and said "every mayor brings something different."

She said her highlights were laying the wreath on Remembrance Day and her civic dinner at the Abbey Buildings, plus fundraising for Abingdon Breakaway Club and Blue Skye Thinking.

Mrs Pighills said she had not yet confirmed how much was raised for the charities, but thanked everyone for donating.