FORMER football mascot Stuart Drummond has been shortlisted for this year's World Mayor Award.

The popular Hartlepool United fan, who was re-elected as Hartlepool Mayor last month with a landslide victory, is a finalist alongside outspoken London Mayor Ken Livingstone and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg in the global competition.

He is one of only 65 mayors from across the world to have been selected on the shortlist from more than 550 nominees from Asia, Africa, Europe and The Americas.

Internet site City Mayors launched the competition to raise the profile of mayors and honour those who have served their communities well.

And now residents from across the region can help Mr Drummond pick up the title by registering their support for him on the Internet.

Mr Drummond, who until a few years ago was Hartlepool United mascot H'Angus the Monkey, said he could not believe he was on the shortlist.

He said: "I am chuffed to bits. It was totally unexpected and I have no idea who has nominated me. I did not even know this competition existed."

Mr Drummond is up against mayors from as far away as China and New Zealand and is one of only two from the UK.

He must now write a 2,000-word essay on what he has done for Hartlepool.

The competition will be judged in December.

Mr Drummond said: "I do not expect to win, but it is putting Hartlepool on the map, which is great."

To vote for Mr Drummond, go to www.citymayors.com