Two people from Bradford have become mayors of their adopted home towns.

Eddie Holden, 58, left Bradford four year ago for the sunnier climes of Filey and is now the seaside town's first citizen.

And Valerie Leake, 59, who was a teenager when she bid farewell to Bradford, has been elected chairman of East Cambridgeshire District Council, the equivalent of a mayor.

The pair may have celebrated their successes at different ends of the country but they both still harbour a love of Bradford.

Retired teacher Valerie, 59, lives in Cambridge with her husband John, but was born in Bradford Moor and lived in Westwood Grove, Eccleshill, until she left to train as a teacher.

She said: "Things have changed dramatically in Bradford since I was a girl but I still miss the hills.

"I remember all the big department stores from Busbys to Brown Muffs. My grandfather J W Crabtree founded a news agency in the city, which my father Harry and then my brother Derek ran.

"One of my earliest memories is coming with my grandfather into the Telegraph & Argus and being terrified by the metal printing presses.

"I've been a councillor for about ten years and I was very honoured when I was elected chairman."

Eddie Holden was born in Green Lane and lived in Bradford for 50 years before moving to the Scarborough area.

He was elected as a Filey councillor in 1998 and went on to become deputy mayor before taking the post of mayor this year.

He said: "I never dreamt of it. Maybe in five or six years I thought I'd become deputy mayor, but I never thought I'd be the mayor so quickly!"

Mr Holden said the fact that two former Bradford residents had achieved such success was a reflection of Bradford people's caring nature. He added: "I just think we look out for the community where we live, we care for the environment and if we get the chance to improve it, we do."