Schoolteacher Harry Steer is to be the next first citizen of Brighton and Hove.

The ruling Labour group will put his name forward to a council meeting early in the New Year.

Coun Steer will succeed the current Mayor, Councillor Andy Durr, at the end of his term in May.

His family is steeped in socialism and Coun Steer himself has been in the Labour Party for more than 40 years.

He was first on the old Brighton Council before leaving to concentrate on his work as a teacher.

But his stepmother, Helen Steer, followed him on to the council and stayed there for many years while also raising huge sums for a cancer charity.

His son, Francis, carried on the family tradition by becoming the youngest member of the old Hove Council.

Coun Steer, 69, lives in Mile Oak and represents North Portslade on the council. His wife, Jean, will be Mayoress.

He chairs the governors at the primary schools in Mile Oak and is also involved in setting up a council for older people in Brighton and Hove .

Coun Steer, whose teaching career was concentrated at Portslade Community College, is also keen on music and is on the board of Brighton Philarmonic Society.

He said: "I was gobsmacked when they told me I was to be Mayor. But I shall do my best for all the people of Brighton, Hove and Portslade."