Lord Mayor Stanley King was today celebrating his birthday in style, with City Hall bells pealing his own song across the city centre.

Coun King - who describes himself as an "amateur, amateur" pianist - penned his verses for a Heaton concert about ten years ago.

Now he has decided to re-release the song, Heaton Hills, to go in the repertoire of the famous bells which are loved by people across the district.

Coun King, who represents the Heaton ward, bought the title of Lord of the Manor of Heaton in 1964.

The title would have vanished because its former holder, Tom Sowden, had no children to pass it down to. It dates back to the time of the Norman conquest in 1066.

His interest in the title began as a schoolboy when he read the Histories of Manningham, Heaton and Allerton by 19th century historian W Cudworth.

As lord of the manor Coun King has few remaining rights, but if stray cattle or sheep wandered into his garden he could impound them and, after a year and a day, he would own them.

The original Heaton Hall manor house which stood in Highgate from around 1700 was demolished in 1939 to make way for a road. St Bede's Grammar School stands nearby.

Coun King, who is 69 today, said: "You are only Lord Mayor once in your lifetime and it seemed an interesting thing to do. I hope people will enjoy it.

"I wrote it a long time ago for a bit of a do in Heaton when there was a fund-raising concert to raise money for the roof of St Barnabas Church there. I put it in as an additional choral item and decided to bring it out again."

Family and friends of the musical Lord Mayor have been asked to join him for tea and buns at City Hall, paid for from his own pocket.

The tune was expected to peal out twice across the city at 1.30 and 5.30pm.