CHARITIES in Blackburn with Darwen in need of cash should contact next year’s Blackburn with Darwen Mayor Faryad Hussain if they need support from his appeal.

The 52-year-old Queen’s Park Labour councillor has been confirmed by this month’s Full Council Forum meeting as the borough’s first citizen.

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He will take over from current mayor Alan Cottam ,with 67-year-old Hussain Akhtar as his deputy.

Cllr Hussain came to Blackburn from Mirpur in Pakistan in 1969.

His wife Parveen will be his mayoress.

The father-of-six and grandfather-of-three said: “I am delighted to be chosen as Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen for 2015/2016.

“It will be a pleasure and privilege and a challenge to take on this vital role.

“I want to promote cohesion between communities and cross-cultural exchanges in our diverse borough.

“My hope is to help every community to appreciate what each brings to the two towns.

“I have already chosen one charity for my Mayoral Appeal, the East Lancashire Hospice in Park Lee Road, Blackburn – but I am looking for others.

“If there are any local charities in the borough needing financial support they should contact me and I will look at adding them to the appeal.

Cllr Hussain, who works night-shifts at Blackburn’s Silicone Engineering, is also looking forward to a few proper night’s sleep.

He said: “I had a word with my employers. who are very happy I shall be mayor. We will work round the night shifts so I can do my job. “ Shear Brow’s Cllr Akhtar, who will be 68 in May, began his political career in 1970, and will succeed Cllr Hussain as Mayor in 2016.

Although he was first elected to the council in 1997, this will his first high-profile civic role.

Cllr Akhtar worked in a factory when he came to Blackburn from Gujarkhan, near Islamabad, Pakistan, before setting up his own business as a general grocer in Whalley Range.

He said: “I’m retired so I have time to dedicate to the role.

“I’m proud that, as a factory worker, I have become deputy mayor.”

He is also the first ever Shear Brow councillor to hold the prestigious position.

He added: “I know a lot about Blackburn, so I think I will be good for the town.

“It’s a very exciting time, it’s the first time the mayor has ever been from Shear Brow.

“I’m sure the community here will welcome the decision.

“I want to unite Blackburn and put it on the map.”