Long Is Belfast's Second Woman Mayor

Alliance councillor Naomi Long became Belfast's second ever female lord mayor last night.

Mrs Long, (pictured) is the party's deputy leader and an MLA for east Belfast, said she was slightly shocked by the outcome of the hotly contested council election.

She defeated the DUP's William Humphrey by two votes, after securing support from the SDLP and Sinn Féin.

The office of lord mayor was last held by a women in 1981. UUP councillor Grace Bannister served for one term.

Mrs Long said her appointment is "good for the city".

"It shows it has moved on. I have made my priority throughout elected office to try to heal the divisions in society," she said.

"I want to work with the council so that people have the best possible opportunities."

Alliance leader David Ford said he was "absolutely delighted" for his colleague.

"I believe Naomi has shown herself as an extremely effective and powerful advocate for her constituents in east Belfast and she is the ideal person to represent the whole of Belfast and to symbolise the shared future that we so badly need," said Mr Ford.

Meanwhile, a Sinn Féin councillor has been elected the new mayor of Derry.

Paul Fleming, whose sister Lynn occupied the office in 2005/06, described his appointment as first citizen as a "great honour".

The Waterside councillor was chosen at last night's council AGM.

Mr Fleming said: "The role of mayor is an exciting challenge that I am looking forward to, and I hope that I can follow the excellent example set by my predecessors in representing the best that this city has to offer."

(PR/BMcC)