THE first female chief executive of Worcestershire County Council has taken over the reins of the top post at County Hall.

Trish Haines, who will be filling the prestigious role of president of the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE) during 2008/09, joins the county council from Reading Borough Council, where she was chief executive for five and a half years.

She was previously director of social services at Warwickshire County Council and also held management posts in local authorities in Berkshire and Suffolk.

Earlier in her career, Mrs Haines worked for worked for the former Hereford and Worcester County Council as assistant director of social services for Herefordshire.

She said: "I am particularly proud to have been selected as Worcestershire County Council's first female chief executive.

"Worcestershire is an excellent, four-star council and I am looking forward to building upon the successes that have already been achieved."

Mrs Haines succeeded Rob Sykes, who spent 10 years in the post.