A POPULAR Lye councillor has made history in Dudley by becoming the borough's first-ever Muslim mayor.

Councillor Mohammed Hanif, who represents Lye and Stourbridge North, has spent a year as Deputy Mayor of Dudley and tonight (Thursday) he was voted in as the borough's first citizen.

Had the local election on May 5 resulted in a power shift - the long-serving Labour councillor could have lost the chance to take over the prestigious ceremonial role.

But luckily the 57-year-old Pakistan-born councillor, who spent his early childhood in rural Rawlpindi, was able to realise his dream of becoming Dudley's first citizen after a continuing Labour administration was confirmed at Dudley Council's annual meeting.

Cllr Hanif, who is the first Muslim to hold the top post since records started in 1565 and whose victory swiftly follows that of London's first Muslim mayor Sadiq Khan, said: "It's a huge honour to be the first Muslim mayor in the history of the Dudley borough."

The councillor, whose wife Zabeda Khanam also becomes the first Muslim Mayoress of Dudley, added: "The Mayoress and I are looking forward to being ambassadors for the borough and promoting all the good things that happen here as well as the rich Black Country culture full of industrial heritage.

"I'd like to thanks all my family, friends and colleagues who made it possible for me to become the Mayor of Dudley.

"I look forward to serving the people of Dudley to the best of my ability."

Cllr Hanif - who moved to England with relatives as a young boy in 1969 - succeeds Councillor Steve Waltho as Mayor of Dudley whose term in office comes to an end, having raised more than £50,000 for his chosen charities - The Hope Centre in Halesowen, Stourbridge's What? Centre, Brierley Hill based More Mascots Please, the leukaemia appeal fund at Russells Hall Hospital and the West Midlands branch of Lupus UK.

Among Cllr Hanif's chosen causes for the year is the Stourbridge-based Friends of Alfie Johnson which helps children with physical and mental disabilities.

He will also be raising funds for Diabetes UK – Type 2 Together, and Dudley CIL which helps the physically and visually impaired with mental health and learning disabilities.

Money raised throughout his term will be split between the three causes.

Cllr Hanif said: “It is with the work of volunteers in our communities in mind that I have chosen the above local charities to support.

"I will stress how important it is that people give whatever they can afford for these worthwhile causes.”

Councillor Pete Lowe, who was re-elected as leader of the authority, said of his ward colleague Cllr Hanif: "I'm absolutely certain he'll be a fitting Mayor of this borough."

Kingswinford North and Wall Heath councillor Dave Tyler was elected as Deputy Mayor of Dudley - with his wife Barbara taking on the job of Deputy Mayoress.