She said: "There have been many highlights, from visits by HMS Quorn and the Defence Animal Centre parade to the charity dinner held in St Mary's Church and the Knight School presentation night at Belvoir Castle.

"But what was even more important to me was that there would be a legacy, too.

"I am proud of the fact we now have a Young Mayor and a youth council and that elections will take place every October during Local Democracy Week.

"And there were a number of firsts which will become annual events, such as the Mayor's Gala Variety Performance at Melton Theatre, the Holocaust Memorial Service and a new driver safety awareness initiative in conjunction with Brooksby Melton College and King Edward VII School."

Mrs Posnett revealed that after meeting Princess Anne on her visit to the Army Cadet drill hall earlier this year there will now be a Mayor's Cadet who can accompany the Mayor on official engagements.

The Mayor's charity appeal currently stands at £16,000. The final total will be split between Melton Mencap and the Mayor's Youth Fund which is to become a registered charity with Alan Duncan MP as its patron. It will make two awards a year, one to a young business entrepreneur, the other to a young person involved in voluntary work.

Tributes were paid to Mrs Posnett and her husband Anthony and to deputy mayor Norman Slater and his wife Mandy for the way in which they all carried out their ambassadorial role.

New Mayor Mal Sheldon's charities will be Melton firefighters' Trumpton project and Melton Lions.