New Lord Mayor of Leeds takes up role with 'great pride'

Abigail Marshall Katung will be the next Lord Mayor of Leeds

The new Lord Mayor of Leeds has been announced as Abigail Marshall Katung.

Ms Marshall Katung said she was "deeply honoured and humbled" to have been elected and that Leeds was a "shining example of unity and compassion".

The Labour & Co-operative Party councillor grew up in Nigeria but moved to the UK to study at Leeds University.

She said on social media: "It's with great pride that my family and I look forward to undertaking the responsibility to serve."

Ms Marshall Katung represents the Little London and Woodhouse ward and is also Chair of the Scrutiny Board (Infrastructure, Investment and Inclusive Growth).

She has 19-year-old twin sons who she "chose to bring up in Leeds", according to her website.

Ms Marshall Katung wrote: "The role of our young people in Leeds is very important to me and the opportunities we provide for them."

Her pledges also include tackling "injustice, inequalities, and promoting a fairer and prosperous society".

Ms Marshall Katung is a governor at Leeds City College, which congratulated her on her new post.

It said: "We look forward to continuing our work together to provide skills and opportunities for people in the region."

The current Lord Mayor of Leeds is Al Garthwaite, the Labour councillor for the Headingley and Hyde Park ward.