IAN Imray marked the end of his year as Mayor of Worcester with a mass.

Yesterday's ceremony, which took place at St George's Catholic Church, near the city centre, was preceded by a procession, which set off from the Guildhall at 10.35am.

Coun Imray said: "As the first Catholic mayor for many, many years, I was extremely proud.

"It was a wonderful conclusion to the mayoral year. We had mayors and chairmen of councils from all over Worcestershire, Gloucester and Herefordshire.

"The church was absolutely packed and it was a wonderful service."

There was a short delay to traffic in the city centre at about 10.40am, with some roads closed for five minutes while the procession travelled down St Nicholas Street to St George's church.