Bradford's Lord Mayor Councillor Stanley King steps down tomorrow after a year which began 'all guns blazing' and ended with a song.

The 69-year-old former textile worker, once employed at historic Salts Mill, made Council history as the first Lord of the Manor to become Lord Mayor.

Coun King - who represents Heaton ward - bought the title of the Lord of the Manor in Heaton in 1962. It dates back to the Norman Conquest of 1066.

Coun King, pictured at the opening of a new building at his old school, St Barnabas Church of England Primary, said today he and his sister Barbara Ball - who is Lady Mayoress - had had the best year of their lives.

Coun King, who is the district's longest serving councillor, said: "When you become a Lord Mayor you are not given a job specification, but you interpret it the way you think most appropriate.

"It's like life in general. You get out of it what you put into it.

"I thought from the start I had only a year, which isn't a long time, to achieve what you want to achieve. I thought I needed to go in with all guns blazing.

"I think Bradford Met is a far more wonderful place than people give it credit for.

"I have been very impressed with the scope and variety of the activities which are going on all the time - both social activities and fundraising for good causes.

"It is irritating though that the anti-social activities of a few hundred undisciplined people at Lidget Green almost managed to overshadow the good work being done."

But he said the vast majority of Bradfordians had made him feel proud.

"We have had the pleasure of entertaining in our rooms people who have achieved something special and made their mark in their own way.

"My aim has been to encourage business, commerce and industry and to encourage my fellow Bradfordians to do their shopping within our district.

"We do need to help each other so trade and shopping facilities can be given the boost they need.

"I hope the coming redevelopment of Bradford city centre and the refurbishment of the canopies in Cavendish Street, Keighley will encourage this trend."

But back in his role as a councillor from tomorrow, he says there is a lot of work still to do.

"There is getting rid of muck and rubbish, Bradford's bid to become City of Culture, race relations, which need tackling in an imaginative way, and passenger transport.

"These things are in the hands of the Whips and we will wait to see what happens.

"The great thing about being a Lord Mayor is that it is so invigorating - I am 69, and now I feel 49."

Coun King will hand over the chains of office tomorrow to Bradford Moor Labour councillor Ghazanfer Khaliq. His wife Shahnaz will be Lady Mayoress.