IT was a case of divine intervention when a local council couldn't decide who they wanted for their new mayor – so it was left to the vicar to pull a name out the hat! At Looe Town Council on Monday, the present mayor, David Bryan, and Cornwall councillor Armand Toms both accepted their nominations as mayor elect for the next year, but that was when the problem arose. In a secret paper ballot, the councillors polled seven votes each. The chairman, mayor Bryan, had the casting vote, but declined to use it. The vote was taken again, only to reveal another stalemate. To solve the situation, both councillors' names were put into a hat, and the mayor's chaplain, the Rev Philip Sharp, drew out the name of the mayor. Mayor Bryan will now serve Looe for a fourth consecutive year. Of the three names put forward for deputy mayor – councillors Armand Toms, Martin Gregory and Mike Soady – councillor Toms won the vote. 'I am very proud to be given the chance to continue working for the town,' said the mayor. 'I also want to pull the council together, as it has not been in perfect harmony for a while.'