A historic number plate is to be dusted down and reintroduced to signify the arrival of a mayor.

Hundreds of people voiced concerns after Brighton and Hove City Council’s Green administration decided to sell the CD1 number plate.

This is despite it marking the arrival of the mayor for the past 110 years.

With the plate now sold for £85,000, the local authority has confirmed that its H2 OVE plate will be installed on the mayor’s car.

Conservative councillor Denise Cobb, who will be the city’s mayor from later this month, took the decision after being asked by officials.

Coun Cobb said: “I really believe in the civic message of being mayor and I think it’s a nice thing to do in having appropriate plates.

“It’s just a shame that it says just Hove and not both Brighton and Hove.”

The H2 OVE number plate was bought by the former Hove Borough Council.

It used to be attached to the car used by the town’s mayor but, when Brighton and Hove merged, the decision was taken to use CD1.

H2 OVE was attached to the deputy mayor’s car before the local authority stopped paying for the vehicle and the plate has since been in storage.

CD1 was bought by an unnamed local businessman last month and the proceeds will be used for one-off grants for community groups in the city.

Labour councillor Bob Carden, who is a former city mayor, said he was against the sale of the number plates.

Coun Carden, who represents North Portslade, said: “CD1 was representative of all three councils: Brighton, Hove and Portslade.

“H2 OVE does not mean anything to me but it’s better than having nothing.”

Garry Peltzer Dunn, a former leader of Hove Borough Council and current city councillor, said: “I do not agree with the selling of CD1 but I’m glad this [H2 OVE] is being used.”