OXFORD’S new Lord Mayor Elise Benjamin took the chain of office last night.

Ms Benjamin, 45, became the city’s first Green civic head, taking over from Liberal Democrat John Goddard at the full meeting of Oxford City Council yesterday.

The Green councillor said: “I am very much looking forward to my year as Lord Mayor and will do my best to both represent residents and be an advocate for our beautiful city.”

Families are invited to a ceremonial welcome at the Botanic Garden followed by a family picnic on Monday, May 30.

The party will parade through Christ Church Meadows to the Garden where Ms Benjamin will be formally welcomed as Lord Mayor and officially open the event.

Her chosen charities during her year of office are Donnington Doorstep Family Centre and People and Planet, which encourages students to campaign on environmental issues.

Ms Benjamin has served as a city councillor in East Oxford since 1999 and lives with former Green city councillor Craig Simmons in Magdalen Road and their daughter.

She has vowed to use the Lord Mayor’s bicycle, donated by cycling campaign group Cyclox, to get to civic functions whenever she can.

She said: “That’s not just because I am a Green. I am passionate about cycling and it will save money which is important at the moment.”