WORCESTER'S new mayor has spoken of his delight - saying his rise to become the city's first citizen is an "unexpected" accolade.

Councillor Roger Knight has now officially taken over the chains, the culmination of 11 years service to the city representing St Peter's.

The 69-year-old Conservative was voted in with backing from both the Labour and Tory benches on Tuesday night, saying he intends to leave "a legacy" for the next generation.

He says his theme for the year will be the environment, including a drive to plant rafts of new trees around the city similar to the impressive Gheluvelt Park.

The retired former retail executive also says he wants to finally rid the city of black bins outside shop fronts, saying it does Worcester "absolutely no favours".

Among his three chosen charities is Acorns Children's Hospice, which sits on the edge of the St Peter's ward.

"It's an honour I never thought I'd have when I joined this city council," he admitted.

"My theme for the year will be an environmental one - I've called it 'seeding a greener future'.

"I want to leave a legacy for my year, for future generations - I'd like more trees, for one thing - I want to work with the university, the media, the Woodlands Trust to plant more of them.

"Gheluvelt Park is one example where we've got some really great trees, it would be lovely to replicate that across the city."

He said the amount of rubbish bags outside shops all day and night "does nothing for our night-time economy", adding that it does "nothing for the day-time economy" either.

As well as Acorns, his other two charities for the year are Sight Concern and the Daisy Chain Benevolent Fund, a trust based in College Green.

At Tuesday's full council meeting Councillor Knight said "in the latter years of my father's life he was virtually blind", adding that Sight Concern offered great support to him.

Daisy Chain, meanwhile, aims to tackle sickness and preserve good health for children and young adults by linking good causes together.

Councillor Knight, a father of three, announced his wife Freda as the new mayoress.

He moved to Worcester from his native London in 1991, and is also a former chairman of St Peter's parish council.

During the meeting Conservative Councillor Robert Rowden said: "He's a man with real talent, and I don't think those talents will be wasted as mayor."

Fellow Conservative Mike Johnson added: "I'd always assumed Roger was Worcester born and bred, but this won't surprise you - when he moved here he spent a lot of time researching where the best place is to live.

"He chose Worcester, and he got that right. He is so thorough, he does a lot of research."

Councillor Knight is a former deputy leader and cabinet member for cleaner and greener at the city council.