MORE must be done to prevent online bullying, according to Oswestry's outgoing mayor.

Councillor Jay Moore revealed an unseen consequence of his role during the annual Civic Dinner held at The Carriages over the weekend.

But he hopes the next generation of councillors will pick up the baton and carry on the work that has already begun.

Cllr Moore said: “During my time on the council I have seen people subjected to insults, threats, and baseless accusations, mostly online, sometimes in the council chamber.

"Recently I was even approached and heckled in public whilst I was with my child in the playground."

He continued: “There is very little support available, no sanctions and very little can be done to challenge the behaviour.

“It is particularly troublesome for young people and those suffering with mental health issues such as low self-worth.

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"If we want to encourage the next generation of councillors and officers to pick up where we leave off, we must start to build a more positive platform for them to work from."

Cllr Moore, who is the youngster mayor in Oswestry's history, has been very focused on establishing a mental health taskforce and trying to tackle the issue for under-18s in the town during his civic year, which ends next month.

His dinner speech also noted his more traditional duties, including the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations and the mourning of her death just three months later.

He said: “It has been a monumental year for our country with the celebrations of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee then the passing of Her Majesty.

“As I stood on the steps of the Guildhall reading the accession proclamation the pressure to get it right was very real, as was the imposter syndrome.

“The thought 'Why is the drum teacher proclaiming the new King?' went through my head more than once."

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Mr Moore also took a moment to thank and praise the town council clerk, the staff and the mayoress, Poppy King.

He added: “Every time I have been out as the mayor she had either been at my side or raising the human whirlwind that is our son, the mini-mayor.

“She had been a constant voice of reason when the pressure and stress in the role has followed me home."