THE city of York is entering a new era with its first all-female civic party.

Councillor Barbara Boyce became Lord Mayor, Valerie Clark became Lady Mayoress, Gillian Brian became Sheriff and Anne Bush became Sheriff”s Consort at the city’s annual mayor-making ceremony.

Council leader David Carr described the line-up as a “huge expression of women power.”

“It’s novel, but very welcome,” he said. “Barbara has spent a lifetime speaking up for equalities for women and she continues to champion that cause. Surely the pinnacle of her achievement sits with us today in the form of the civic party elect.”

Cllr Carr also spoke of Cllr Boyce’s “plain north of England working class background” -her maternal grandmother having been born in the York Union Workhouse in Huntington Road.

Cllr Boyce, a former teacher, plans to make Refugee Action York one of her charities, and said she was determined to make a stand during her year of office against intolerance and prejudice.