THE new Lord Mayor of Oxford, Mohammed Abbasi, celebrated taking office with a procession and fete in the city centre yesterday.

He led the procession from the Town Hall, in St Aldate’s, to Gloucester Green. The 71-year-old councillor for the Cowley Marsh ward, who has lived in Oxford for 50 years, succeeds Dee Sinclair, who served as the city’s first citizen for the past year.

Mr Abbasi said: “It’s a proud day for me and for all the ethnic minorities in Oxford.”

He first held the office for two months last year, after Alan Armitage resigned from office.

After the procession, a fete was held at Gloucester Green with music and market stalls.