The new Lord Mayor of Bradford has been announced as Naveeda Ikram.

Councillor Ikram, a former Deputy Lord Mayor, was nominated by the Council’s Labour Group.

She is believed to be one of the first Pakistan-born females in the country to take on the leading civic role.

Coun Ikram, who represents Little Horton ward, succeeds Lord Mayor, Councillor Peter Hill. The mother-of-three is a senior airline supervisor and is married to Saqib Salam Shah, who will be her consort. She said: “As a proud Bradfordian it’s a tremendous honour and privilege to be selected as the Lord Mayor of such a great, diverse and significant place as Bradford district. Although we face some difficult times right now I believe that we have a great future and, over the coming year, I hope to play my part as an ambassador for all our communities in projecting a positive, forward looking image of the district.

Councillor Val Slater (Lab, Royds), has been appointed as the Deputy Lord Mayor.She said: “It’s unusual to have two women in this position, but I’m positive that together we will be an unstoppable force for the benefit of Bradford.”