Lord Mayors spanning 30 years of Oxford's political history gathered together this week to be given a badge in recognition of their work.

Jim Campbell, the current Lord Mayor, welcomed 16 former incumbents to the Mayor's Parlour at the Town Hall on Monday evening to present them each with a badge.

The gift, which will be given to Lord Mayors when they complete their year in office, was the brainchild of Bob Price, who handed his chain, robes, chauffeur-driven car and parlour keys to Mr Campbell earlier this year.

Mr Price, who paid for the badges to be made for all those former Lord Mayors who are still alive, said: "The evening was a great success because we got so many old mayors together. It is quite an achievement to get them all in the same place at the same time.

"I didn't really think we'd get this many."

Mr Price was inspired to initiate the badge system after his own father recently gave him the badges that were given to his own great-grandfather and great uncle after they had acted as mayors.

Chairmen of Oxfordshire County Council are given a badge, as are many mayors elsewhere in Oxfordshire.

Mr Price said: "Oxford city is a remarkable place. We are all really, really honoured to have lived in such a wonderful city.

"To not have a symbol of being the first citizen of this city seems a shame."

Everyone who attended the ceremony welcomed Mr Price's innovation.

Former Lord Mayor Bryan Keen, who was there with his wife Beryl, also a former Lord Mayor, said: "When you are Lord Mayor you would go round all the county towns and all their previous mayors would have some kind of badge.

"It is nice we don't have to wear our gowns, which we are entitled to wear, to every reception, instead we can wear the badges."

Bill Baker, Lord Mayor in 1997 and 1998, said: "It is nice to show the appreciation. You have to have been a councillor for a lot of years before you can be a Lord Mayor and I think it is in some ways a reward for what we do."

Also receiving a badge, but not present when the photograph was taken was Maureen Christian, who was Lord Mayor in 2000-01.

She was a Labour city councillor for Headington Hill and Northway for 19 years.