CHORLEY'S new mayor aims to banish the image of councillors as men in stuffy grey suits by filling his year in office with action-packed fundraising events.

Councillor Danny Gee says he is up for any challenge to raise cash for his chosen charities.

He said: "I have the mind of a 21-year-old, but unfortunately my body tells me I'm 57!

"I want to do an abseil and some paragliding. In fact, I'll do anything apart from a bungee jump.

"I once asked to abseil down the side of the town hall, but I wasn't allowed -- we'll see if we can resurrect that idea this year, although I don't think they'll let me!"

Councillor Gee was installed as Mayor of Chorley at a town hall ceremony last week.

His first official engagement, Chorley Walking Day on Saturday, was cancelled due to torrential rain.

As well as juggling his council duties, Coun Gee holds down a full-time job as a team coordinator at BNFL in Preston.

Born in Cannon Street, Chorley, Coun Gee moved to Germany as a baby with his parents, but was back in Chorley as a teenager before joining the Merchant Navy. He also spent 10 years at the Royal Ordnance in Euxton.

He said: "I've travelled all over the world, but I always seem to come back to Chorley.

"I'm very settled here now and love the town -- there's so much good in the people here."

His mayoress is wife Brenda. The couple have one daughter Michelle, 22, a recent criminology graduate.

Derian House, St Catherine's and the North West Air Ambulance are his chosen mayoral charities. He will also donate some of the cash to smaller local causes, including Shopmobility.

He said: "Derian House and St Catherine's are the obvious choices for me because they are such fantastic resources.

"The North West Air Ambulance is a charity that helps so many people from our borough. We have two major motorways and miles of moorland where the air ambulance is vital for getting people to hospital quickly.

"I'm very excited about being mayor and just hope to raise as much cash as possible."