THE 387th mayor of Worcester was voted into office during the city’s annual mayor-making ceremony at the Guildhall.

Councillor Andy Roberts, who has been Worcester’s deputy mayor for the past 12 months, was handed the historic golden chain by tearful outgoing mayor Lucy Hodgson after being selected by his fellow members at a meeting of the full council.

Well-known independent Councillor Mike Layland was chosen as the new deputy mayor, meaning he now looks certain to become the city’s 388th mayor next year. It will be the second time Coun Layland has held the mayoralty – the first being back in 1981.

Local history buff Coun Roberts who, like Coun Hodgson is a Conservative representing Warndon Parish South, said: “It’s obviously a great honour to be made mayor of Worcester.”

Referring to the city’s Civil War past, he said: “As my theme for the year I would like Worcester to be recognised both abroad and at home for its involvement in the birth of democracy.

“Two American presidents came here in the past and paid homage to the people of Worcester, saying, ‘Here is the ground where liberty was fought for’. My aim for the year is to get greater recognition for Worcester.”

Coun Roberts spent 37 years working with the Hereford and Worcester Fire Service, eventually rising to the rank of assistant fire officer, before retiring in 2000. He has since been both a city and county councillor and is also chairman of Worcester Conservatives.

He was nominated for the mayoralty by Tory deputy leader Barry Mackenzie-Williams, who said: “In Andy Roberts we are lucky yet again to have a candidate brought up in the city and who has served it for so many years. His has been an exceptional career path of which anyone would be proud.” Conservative Coun Douglas Wilkinson paid tribute to Coun Roberts’s enthusiasm and the “active role he plays in the community”. Tributes were also paid to outgoing mayor Coun Hodgson.