A BUSINESSWOMAN has followed in her father's footsteps by becoming the High Sheriff of Greater Manchester, the Queen's representative in the county.

Sue Hodgkiss, a divorced mother-of-one, was formally installed in a ceremony in the Bolton Council chamber yesterday.

Watched by the councillors and specially-invited guests, including former Beirut hostage Terry Waite, Ms Hodgkiss accepted the Sheriff's Patent presented to her by the Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, Col John Timmins.

Ms Hodgkiss's 84-year-old father Bartle Hodgkiss is a former holder of the position.

The position of High Sheriff is a largely ceremonial role and involves accompanying visiting Royals, organising functions for visiting High Court judges and attending public events.

Ms Hodgkiss was born and bred in Bolton and lived in her home town until recently moving to West Didsbury.

Ms Hodgkiss said she was delighted and honoured to be installed as the new High Sheriff.

She said: "It's a great honour to have been selected by the Queen.

"I have designed my own ceremonial costume to wear on official engagements, making it more suitable for modern times. Unlike the men, I won't be wearing a ceremonial sword."

Ms Hodgkiss, aged 52, is chairman of the family structural engineering firm of William Hare which was established in Bolton in 1945, but moved to Bury three years ago.

In 1999, when the financial future of the Octagon Theatre was threatened, she stepped in and single-handedly raised £250,000 to save it.

She devotes much of her spare time to working with the homeless through the Emmaus charity and Terry Waite attended the ceremony at her request in his role as president of the charity.