Harwich's new mayor and mayoress announced their arrival with the town's historic tradition of throwing cakes to children.
In her red robes and gold chains, mayor Steph Tyrer and mayoress, her mum Eileen Tyrer, paraded through the streets.
Crowds of children gathered outside the Guildhall as the duo threw sweet buns, known as kitchels, from a window.
It is the second year in a row a mother-and-daughter team have been linked to the post.
The new mayor said: "I was a bit nervous all this week with everything that has been going on, but everything went really well. I am very much looking forward to the coming year. I am going to be focusing on volunteer work and I can't wait to get started."
This year's council meeting and church service were held in the Electric Palace cinema for the first time because of ongoing work to St Nicholas's Church.
Miss Tyrer thanked outgoing mayor and mayoress Jacky Wares and Helen Gardner in her speech for their hard work.
The five charities chosen by the mayoress were announced as the RNLI, Cardiac Risk in the Young, Essex Air Ambulance, Ark and St Helena Hospice.
Barry Brown was named Harwich Town Council's deputy Mayor.
