Brighton and Hove's new mayor will know a lot about being first citizen when she takes over next May.

For Jeane Lepper, it will be ten years since her husband David held the post.

Coun Lepper has been recommended by the ruling Labour group to succeed Liberal Democrat David Watkins at the end of the municipal year.

But first she has to have her nomination approved by the full council next month.

She also has to win a new seat in the local elections earlier in May.

Coun Lepper, 57, has lived in Brighton since 1968 and became a member of East Sussex County Council in 1989.

She joined Brighton Council in 1996 and became a member of the new city council a year later.

Coun Lepper, who represents Hollingbury, chairs the licensing committee.

Her husband David was the first Labour leader of Brighton Council in 1986. He won Brighton Pavilion for Labour at the 1997 General Election and was re-elected last year.

In 1993, Coun Lepper was mayoress when her husband held the position and took part in hundreds of civic duties.

This time, David Lepper will be her consort when he is available but his wife said: "His work as an MP must come first."

She will ask other leading members of the council to attend major events when appropriate.

The Leppers have two children, Joe, a journalist and Eve, a nursery nurse now studying to be a social worker.

Coun Lepper said: "It would be a great honour to represent the city I love.

"It is also some time since we have had a woman mayor in Brighton and Hove. There are thousands of women who often don't get recognition."