Horsforth councillor Brian Cleasby is to be the new Lord Mayor for Leeds.

Coun Cleasby, who has been a member of the council for 12 years, has been announced as the Lord Mayor elect for 2007/8.

The decision was due to be formally announced at yesterday's meeting of the full council, and it has already been greeted with pleasure by fellow councillors.

The Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, Mark Harris said: "I'm delighted that we have been able to nominate Councillor Cleasby for Lord Mayor. Councillor Cleasby is a well respected community campaigner in both Horsforth and Rawdon and he has gained the trust of the people in these communities though years of service. I'm sure that in Leeds' 800th year, the city will have a Lord Mayor to be proud of, both inside and outside the Civic Hall."

Coun Cleasby, who sits on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, the Children's Services Scrutiny Board and is chairman of the Development Scrutiny Board, will be joined in his new role by his wife, Jo, who will act as the Lady Mayoress.

Coun Cleasby was born in Stockton-on-Tees in July 1937.He joined the RAF at 18 and served as a photographer. He and Jo were married in 1960, and the couple, who have lived in Rawdon for almost 40 years, have two daughters, Cindy and Selina, and a granddaughter Amelia.

In 1968 Brian became a founder member of Yorkshire Television, helping to set up their stills department. He became a senior skills photographer working on top programmes in this country and abroad, including Hollywood.

When the company closed the department he ran his own video production and media training company.

He was elected to the council in 1995 to represent Horsforth Ward, a position he has held ever since.