By Alan Irving

Last updated 15:57, Wednesday, 26 March 2008

COPELAND’S First Citizen made a trip out of the borough in the mayoral car – blissfully unaware that it wasn’t protocol.

Anne Faichney used the chauffeur-driven limousine, normally put at her disposal for mayoral duties, for a trip to Keswick in order to attend a Copeland Constituency Labour Party meeting.

But unknown to her at the time the limousine should not have been used for the journey because it was not a mayoral event.

Accompanied by former mayor Willis Metherill, she went to a Labour Party meeting as opposed to a civic function. It was the first constituency party meeting to take place in Keswick, which will be included in the constituency boundary at the next general election.

Coun Faichney told The Whitehaven News: “Quite honestly, I did not know there was any fuss about this until now. I understood I was also going as mayor of Copeland – I don’t drive myself and I did not see any problem with it. I wore the chain of office and I thought it was a nice opportunity to meet people we are going to be associated with in Keswick.”

Copeland Council said that technically the mayor’s car should not have been used but it was caused by “an administrative mix up” in the members’ services department which dealt with an invitation for the mayor.

Coun Faichney said: “If there’s any problem over this, I would rather pay myself, I have no worries about that.”