SISTERS are certainly doing it for themselves in Beverley.

The daughters of freemen of the town were sworn in to take up the historic role for the first time at a ceremony at Beverley Guildhall.

It follows a change in the law in January that has allowed women as well as men to take the hereditary title.

Freemen can become candidates to be elected pasture masters – the guardians of the town's 1,200 acres of common land, including the famous Westwood.

Previously, freeman had to be born within the boundaries of Beverley, but the closure of town's maternity unit led to numbers of hereditary freemen falling dangerously low.

But a long campaign has led to the rule change and yesterday's historic ceremony.

The four daughters of pasture masters chairman Chris Thompson – Annette Horner, Diana Barratt, Christine Gibbon and Caroline Green – were among 11 men and women to take the oath.

Mrs Horner, 46, whose father campaigned for the law change, said: "It's a great honour to be one of the first female freemen of Beverley.

"It has been an historic day and a fantastic thing for my family."

The boundaries for qualifying freemen of Beverley have now also been extended to include Molescroft and Woodmansey, allowing more men to be admitted.

Only freemen resident in these parishes will be eligible to stand in the annual pasture masters elections, however.