IT was out of Africa and into Worcester at the mayor’s banquet.

This year’s event to welcome new mayor David Tibbutt had an African theme – a nod to his 40 years’ involvement with charity work in the continent.

As well as proteas from South Africa and gloriosa lilies from east Africa, there were also a number of artefacts on display.

But there were also some decidedly local touches: every person at the banquet, held in the Guildhall on Friday evening, got a bottle of Worcestershire sauce to take home with them.

Councillor Tibbutt said: “Judging from the feedback I’ve had, everyone had a thoroughly good time. It was a little bit different because it had an African theme.

“We also had Theo Theobald, Worcestershire’s poet laureate, who performed his poem Worcestershire Sauce. It was absolutely brilliant and somehow he obtained a small bottle of Worcestershire sauce for everybody.”