A clockmaker who suffers from Parkinson’s disease has been elected as mayor for a third time.

Councillor David Pay, 77, this year’s Mayor of Reigate and Banstead, has chosen to support research charity Parkinson’s UK and St Catherine’s Hospice in Crawley.

Coun Pay said that he wants to help fund research and raise awareness about Parkinson’s disease for which there is currently no cure.

He said: "No two people who suffer from it have the same symptoms. They all suffer in different ways. I have occasionally a black day but mostly, thank goodness, they are quite good days."

Coun Pay, who was diagnosed three and a half years ago, said he has "relatively mild" symptoms including tremors in his right hand. But he said: "Obviously it’s downhill, the condition worsens over time but how quickly we just don’t know.

"When I was diagnosed the specialist said ‘you don’t seem that put about it’, which I wasn’t. It’s something you have to accept and live with. One gets on and does work as one can."

After leaving school at the age of 15, Coun Pay was apprenticed to his uncle as a clockmaker and still repairs clocks. He said: "It was a family business. It was a natural progression."

Coun Pay, who represents Redhill West, has served as mayor in 2006/7 and 2010/11. He said: "It’s my third time. I’m delighted and deeply honoured."

His wife Barbara will accompany him during his year and he said: "I have her wholehearted support, I could not have it without that."

Councillor John Stephenson, who represents Woodmansterne, Chipstead, Hooley and Netherne, has been elected as the deputy mayor.