It's all change on the Dartmouth regatta leadership front.

Dartmouth district councillor Hilary Bastone – who has headed up the massive event's organising committee for the last two years – has stepped down.

He has been replaced by fellow district councillor Jonathan Hawkins who has been the vice chairman for the last year.

Mr Bastone officially stepped down from the chairmanship's post at the annual regatta meeting at Dartmouth Guildhall.

As he made his closing speech as chairman to more than 40 committee members and members of the public, he thanked the various officers and committee members for their work.

He added: 'I have to say that personally I never expected to be chairman of our royal regatta again and, although there have been some tough moments, I do feel that with the tremendous support we have received we have been able to turn things around and we are now heading in the right direction.'

As a thank you for his efforts, Mr Bastone was presented with framed pages from last year's regatta programme, signed by the committee.

After being voted into the role of chairman, Mr Hawkins said: 'It's a great honour and I really want to work with all of the committee to ensure that Dartmouth regatta remains the best in the west.'

He added: 'I really wish to learn from the committee members who have the expertise that I lack and I want to ensure that we are a united committee and we all work together.'