NEW borough first citizen Faryad Hussain last night revealed that after a public appeal he had chosen Blackburn foodbank as the second of his mayoral charities.

In the run up to his confirmation in the post, he had asked for suggestions to join the East Lancashire Hospice as recipients of his appeal.

MORE TOP STORIES:

When Blackburn with Darwen’s annual council meeting and mayor making confirmed his office, Cllr Hussain explained why he had chosen the two charities.

He said: “One is for caring and the other is for sharing.”

The 52-year-old Queen’s Park councillor said it was an ‘honour and a privilege’ for him and his wide Parveen to become mayor and mayoress of the borough they had made their home.

He revealed that he had chosen two of his six children as assistant mayoresses – daughters Saira, 25, and Romana, 22.

Cllr Hussain also thanked the people of Queen’s Park was who had elected him as their Labour councillor since 1999.

He takes over from 2014/2015 mayor Alan Cottam, Conservative councillor for Livesey with Pleasington, who raised more than £12,000 for his two charities, the local branch Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen’s Family Association and the East Lancashire Hospice in Blackburn.

Cllr Cottam told last month’s full council forum of his enjoyment of his year of office.

Last night’s meeting also officially confirmed 67-year-old Shear Brow councillor Hussain Akhtar as his deputy and mayor designate for 2016/2017.

Cllr Hussain, who came to Blackburn from Mirpur in Pakistan in 1969, and works at Silicone Engineering, said: “I am very pleased, no absolutely over the moon, to have started my mayoral year. This is a great moment for both myself and my family. It is a special honour for us. My main focus is going to be community cohesion in the borough.”

Last month Cllr Hussain appealed through the Lancashire Telegraph for nominations for his second charity to join the hospice as recipients of his appeal.