Aylsham's new town council clerk has spent the past 11 years helping parishes all over Norfolk.

Sue Lake has been lead officer with the county's association of local councils since 2007, having started there as an administration officer.

It involved providing support on legal and procedural matters as well as acting as a voice for towns and parishes at district and county council level.

In June she will take over the Aylsham parish clerk role from Mo Anderson-Dungar, who retiring after almost 22 years in the post.

Mrs Lake has also in the past been parish clerk for more than 12 years in her home village of Hainford.

She said she was looking forward to working full-time again for one grass roots council.

'I shall enjoy the challenge of direct involvement in my market town.

'Town councils are increasingly important as somewhere to give local people a real voice,' she added.

Mrs Lake, 56, has also previously done administration work for Barclays Bank's will tax and investment section, as well as the Norfolk branch of the Playgroup Association.

She is married to Paul, who is design manager at Anglian Windows, and they have two grown up children Richard 28 and Abby 26. Away from work Mrs Lake enjoys walking and watching sport.

She will work alongside Mrs Anderson-Dungar from May 1, and will meet local people at the annual town meeting the previous evening.