Two local councillors have proudly taken up their civic duties as the new Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor of Bradford.

Councillor Richard Wightman, of Menston, was officially given the role of Lord Mayor of Bradford at a ceremony on Tuesday at City Hall, Bradford.

The Deputy Lord Mayor honour goes to former Addingham parish councillor David Harrison, of Addingham.

Coun Wightman has chosen the children's cancer charity Candlelighters to benefit from his charity appeal.

Money raised during his year of office will go to Candlelighters, which is made up of parents whose children are suffering from malignant or severe blood disorders.

Coun Wightman said: "Candlelighters is a charity which is close to the needs and experiences of the families it serves.

"I would therefore ask you to support this very worthy charity and help the dedicated staff at the unit to give the very best care to these children and their families at a difficult time."

Coun Wightman's own grandson, Felix, was treated for leukaemia at the age of two, the illness is now in remission.

The new Lord Mayor is planning to make his year of office his 'swan song' after years on the front line of Bradford Council.

He has fulfilled his ambition of spending his final year serving the district as first citizen but said he would miss the council which had been so much of his life for 20 years.

The 57-year-old former deputy leader of the Tory group said: "I have done quite a stint on the council and I feel it is time to move into another stage of my life."

He said local government has improved but it was still too remote from the public.

Coun Wightman and his wife Elizabeth have two sons, Charles and Alistair, and three grandsons.

He is a retired businessman and the new Lady Mayoress is a retired civil servant.

He has been deputy group leader on two occasions for a total of 12 years and is a former Ilkley parish councillor.

Coun Wightman read commerce at the University of Edinburgh and met his Scottish wife whilst studying there.

He is a former chairman of Bradford Club and is a director of Royds Community Association, Bradford Trident Limited, Leeds-Bradford airport and Bradford Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

He said: "I think the year as Lord Mayor will be very hard work and very satisfying. I feel I want to put something back into the council and the district."

The new Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress succeed Councillor Ghazanfer Khaliq and his wife Shahnaz as first citizens.

Deputy Lord Mayor David Harrison said: "My wife Janet and I are really looking forward to carrying out our duties.

"It is a great honour and we hope to have a very eventful and enjoyable year."

The Deputy Lord Mayor's first civic duty will be on Sunday at Addingham Memorial Hall when he will receive a framed picture of former soldiers from the Duke of Wellington's Regiment.