Mayor to reduce duties after cancer diagnosis

Mayor of Lancaster, Abi Mills, has revealed she has been diagnosed with breast cancer

Mayor of Lancaster Abi Mills has announced she is reducing her role duties while she undergoes cancer treatment.

The Green politician, who was appointed mayor of the city in May, said she had been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Ms Mills, 53, said she was "doing well" and "keeping positive".

Her son, and deputy mayor, Hamish, 21, will attend events and chair council meetings in her absence.

Deputy mayor, Hamish Mills, will fill for his mother's duties while she is undergoing treatment

Mrs Mills, who has been a councillor for the Scotforth West ward of Lancaster since 2014, said she still planned to fulfil as many mayoral engagements as possible but treatment for the disease would "inevitably mean a reduction" in those she was able to attend.

"I am looking forward to getting back to normal on the other side of this, but thought it was only fair to explain why I may not be able to attend some events or have to miss meetings,” she said.

Mrs Mills said she would also continue doing case work for her constituents, with the support from fellow ward councillor Tim Hamilton-Cox.

She took over the role of Right Worshipful the Mayor of the City of Lancaster, a tradition that dates back to 1338, from councillor Roger Dennison and described it at the time as an "immense privilege".

Mrs Mills, who is a childminder and a mentor for other childminders, has received an outpouring of support from residents on social media following her diagnosis announcement.