NEW city Mayoress Ann Scott will play host to people from various walks of life as the doors of a civic centre are opened to guests.

This year's Mayoress at Home event, at the Civic Centre, in Sunderland, will feature traditional afternoon tea with musical accompaniment.

The event gives individuals and community organisations in Wearside the chance to meet their new mayoress, who will be joined by the mayor, her husband, Councillor Les Scott.

A number of other new mayors from towns and cities across the North-East are also expected to attend.

Among her selected guests for Thursday's event will be members of Women's Institute and Federation of Townswomen's Guild groups, plus community organisations from her home ward, St Chads.

They will be entertained by children from East Herrington Primary School choir, dancers from New Silksworth Infant School and the sounds of the Farra-cappella vocal group, from Farringdon Community Sports College, and the East End Sing-along Chorus, led by Sunderland Symphony Orchestra's Rupert Hanson.

Councillor Scott said: "I'm delighted to be hosting this year's event, my first official function in my own right.

"It will give me the chance to meet so many of the people who do such hard work on behalf of our community."

This year's mayoral charities are The Salvation Army, in Sunderland, and the SAFC Foundation, the charitable arm of the city's football club.