TEIGNMOUTH'S new mayor has urged under pressure traders to 'look on the bright side' during the recession.

Cllr Vince Fusco, elected to the post for the third time, declared that despite the economic downturn, it was not all 'doom and gloom'.

He appealed to the business community to work with the town council to ensure 'lovely and marvellous' Teignmouth survived the downturn.

'We are all doing our best for this town, and we will succeed in the end. I thank all the organisations for their help as well,' he told the annual town council meeting at Bitton House on Tuesday.

Cllr Fusco, the deputy mayor for the past year, was elected unopposed, and the mayoress will be his daughter, Tina Cockram, as his wife Margaret is suffering ill health.

Cllr Fusco was proposed by Cllr James McMurray, who said the honour was 'richly deserved' because of his many years of service to the town.

The new deputy is Cllr Ian Parkes, also elected without opposition, and his wife Eileen will be the deputy mayoress. He was proposed 'without hesitation' by Cllr Geoff Bladon, who said he had proved a very able member during his two years on the council.

Cllr Don Baldey continues as chairman of the finance and general purposes committee, with Cllr Geoff Bladon the deputy.

The final duty for the outgoing mayor, Cllr Fred Tooley, was to award the Dick Petherick Trophy, in memory of the late councillor, for youth achievement to Matt Moses, 27, for his sporting prowess on the rugby field, and his community service.

He plays for Teignmouth RFC, and achieved representative honours with the Devon, English and British fire service teams.

He is also a retained firefighter, and also serves as a volunteer with the local lifeboat.

He is the third recipient of the trophy, which was donated by Cllr Geoff Bladon.

Cllr Fusco said he was 'an example to young people in the town', and Matt emphasised that he could not achieved any of it without the support of his colleagues.

The mayor's cadet for the year is Jasmine Walker.