A Lowestoft man has been elected as the new chairman of East Suffolk Council.

Keith Robinson, who represents the Oulton Broad ward, was elected as the new council chairman at a virtual annual meeting held on September 23.

Cllr Robinson will be chairman for the remainder of the 2020/21 municipal year, taking on the post from Colin Hedgley.

Mr Robinson officially became one of East Suffolk Council’s first councillors when he was elected for the Oulton Broad ward in May 2019 and has also held the role of vice chairman of East Suffolk Council and chairman of the Licensing Committee since then.

Prior to this, he was a Waveney district councillor since being elected in September 2017 and has also held the role of a county councillor since being elected in May 2017.

Brought up in Lowestoft, he has spent much of his working life as a mechanic, MOT tester and long-distance truck driver.

Mr Robinson said: “It has been a great pleasure to serve as one of the first councillors for East Suffolk Council, and I am honoured to be appointed to this prestigious role.

“I will represent the district with pride and work hard to ensure that we represent the people who voted for us and deliver what is best for our residents and communities.”