HEARTFELT tributes to the victims of the Manchester terror attack were paid by both the outgoing and new chairman of Craven District Council.

At last week's change around, at the annual meeting of the council, new chairman, Cllr Stephen Place, said what ought to have been a happy occasion had been spoilt by the incident at the Ariana Grande concert, which left 22 dead and dozens of others injured.

Cllr Place, who was voted council chairman unanimously, said: "What really brought it home to me was to hear that an eight-year-old girl was one of the victims. I look at my grandchildren and think, it could have been them.”

Cllr Place, who represents Sutton- in -Craven and is an Independent, but allied to the Conservatives, added: “Life has to go on, otherwise the bombers gain a victory.”

Earlier, outgoing chairman, Cllr Chris Moorby, who had started the meeting with a minute's silence, said he had written a letter to the Mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham on behalf of the people of Craven.

"We will not give into these people that commit these terrible atrocities. These people are hell bent on destroying our lives, not just in England, but all over the world. What the members of the human race can do to each other at times beggars belief," he said.

Cllr Place, whose consort for the year will be his wife, Gail, was last chairman of the council in 2003-2004.

He said during his year in office, he hoped to raise the profile of climate change because the world needed to 'wake up' to what he described was a very real problem.

"I hope to raise awareness of a big issue threatening Craven and the world in general – climate change. Is Craven doing enough? I don't know, but I will ask the question."

Cllr Wendy Hull, who represents Settle, was unanimously elected vice chairman, which should mean she will be chairman in 2018-2019. She was also named the council's Older Peoples' champion, previously held by former councillor Pat Fairbank, who retired earlier in the year.

Skipton member, Cllr John Dawson will be the new deputy chairman taking over from Cllr Patrick Mulligan after he was voted onto the Executive of North Yorkshire County Council with responsibility for education and skills.

Cllr Mulligan, ward member for Lothersdale and Aire Valley, will remain lead member for financial resilience.