A FORMER Tyldesley miner will today become the new mayor of Wigan after 40 years of public service for the borough. Cllr Sam Little, 77, will take on the mantle of the town's first citizen as the borough prepares to celebrate its 25th anniversary.

When he accepts the chains of office this afternoon it will cap four decades of hard work for local people and comes just two years after he stepped down as housing chairman.

Cllr Little, who lives with Nancy, his wife of 55 years, at their home in Green Street, Tyldesley, said: "It is a great honour to be chosen to be the mayor by my colleagues, particularly when you look at some of the illustrious names who came before me.

"Nancy and I are looking forward to getting out and meeting people in all parts of our borough, and we will be doing everything in our power to be fitting ambassadors for Wigan wherever we go." By Matthew Taylor Cllr Finch: young life dogged by poverty and hard times

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.