OXFORD’S new Lord Mayor has been officially sworn in tonight at the traditional mayor-making ceremony in Oxford Town Hall.

Colin Cook has taken over the position from retiring Lord Mayor Jean Fooks and will now fulfill the duties for the next year.

Guests and fellow councillors watched this evening as the chains of office were passed on.

Sajjad Malik, of the Labour Party, was also sworn in as Deputy Lord Mayor and Craig Simmons of the Green Party was appointed Sheriff.

Mr Cook, who represents Jericho and Osney on the council, said it was a ‘great honour and privilege’ to take up the position.

The keen cyclist and skier moved to Oxford as a student in 1982 and works as a chief technician in medical sciences.

Mr Cook joins a long line of mayors of Oxford, going back to Turchillus who served between 1122-1123.

Mayors names can be traced in an unbroken line until 1962 when the dignity of the Lord Mayor was granted to Oxford by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

The bells of Carfax Tower were rung out to commemorate the ceremony.