Former postie is new Wolverhampton mayor

At a ceremony in council chambers at the city's Civic Centre on Wednesday, the Liverpudlian was voted in unanimously to replace Mike Heap.

Councillor Brookfield has represented Fallings Park as a councillor since May 2012, having first been elected to the council in 1995.

An avid Everton supporter, he moved to the Black Country from his home in Liverpool 26 years ago and has worked as a postman for the Royal Mail and as a qualified nurse in the prison service.

The father-of-two has also been a regional representative for the Communication Workers Union.

In his acceptance speech Councillor Brookfield told a packed council chambers that it was 'a great honour' to be elected Mayor of Wolverhampton.

He was presented with his red mayoral robe and gold chain at the ceremony, and announced that he would be supporting three charities over the coming year.

They are the city's foodbanks and soup kitchens, the Kingswood Trust and Bilston Remembered.

He added that he and his wife, the Mayoress Councillor Paula Brookfield, will also support the West Park Physiotherapy Centre.

During the ceremony tributes were paid to outgoing mayor Mike Heap, who also stood down from his role as councillor for Spring Vale earlier this month.

Councillor Wendy Thompson said Mr Heap and his wife Frances had attended more than 300 mayoral events over the past 12 months.

"This was a very caring mayor," she said. "He brought a lot of dignity to the post in a most erudite way."

In his final address to the council, Mr Heap said: "This is as rare as hen's teeth. A Yorkshire congratulating a Lancastrian on being appointed Mayor of Wolverhampton.

"He ain't a bad lad and will make a good mayor of the city."

Councillor Barry Findlay was elected as deputy mayor.