Birmingham's new Lord Mayor, adopted Brummie Chauhdry Rashid, took up his chains of office watched by his wife Shafait Begum on Tuesday at the annual general meeting of the city council.

The ceremony welcomed the 67-year-old as the First Citizen and bid farewell to Coun Randal Brew, the outgoing Lord Mayor, who will become Deputy Lord Mayor.

Coun Rashid was born in Pakistan and is a proud adopted Brummie, having lived in the city since 1963. He and his wife, married for 45 years, have seven children and 11 grandchildren. One of the first Asian magistrates before becoming a councillor for Small Heath between 1987 and 1999, he returned to the council in 2004 to represent the Nechells ward.

"We are really looking forward to meeting a whole wealth of people from all different backgrounds and cultures and promoting our wonderful city to everyone we meet, both in the UK and abroad," said Coun Rashid.