A PLEA to find a new Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports has been taken to the Prime Minister and the Queen.

Sandwich Mayor Cllr Joe Trussler has written letters to 10 Downing Street and Buckingham Palace calling for an announcement about a successor to the late Queen Mother.

He said: "This is not rocket science. It is such a shame a decision has not been made and the delay is making me angry."

Cllr Trussler is speaker for the Confederation of the Cinque Ports and said his fellow mayors throughout the South East are also concerned at the time being taken to decide the new Lord Warden.

The Queen Mother took office in 1979. She became a regular summer visitor to Walmer Castle, the Warden's official residence, and died at Easter 2002, aged 101.

Her successor will be appointed by the Queen, on the advice of the Prime Minister, and installed with full pageantry at Dover.

Cllr Trussler added: "The Cinque Port mayors work hard for their communities and we are all disappointed the Cinque Ports does not have a Lord Warden.

"It is not right and I was at my wit's end about what to do, so I wrote to Mr Blair and the Queen.

"The Prime Minister wrote back to say an announcement was imminent, but I am still waiting to hear from Buckingham Palace."

The Mayor hoped the installation would be held while he was still confederation speaker, but now he believes time has run out to organise the ceremony before he steps down in May.

He said he would like to see former American president Bill Clinton as Lord Warden, or maybe Nelson Mandela from South Africa.

Other rumoured suggestions have included Prince Andrew, who plays at the Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club in Deal, and former British Prime Minister John Major, who has watched Kent play cricket at Canterbury.

KM-fm's Katie Williams found out more about the ancient position...