Exeter has been granted a Lord Mayor to mark the Golden Jubilee - and the Express & Echo played a major part in winning the accolade.

The newspaper joined forces with Exeter City Council to put the bid to the Queen and beat 16 other cities for the honour.

The Echo produced an eight-page supplement outlining the case for the city and sent a copy to the Lord Chancellor's London office.

A spokesman for his office said: "We were aware of the enthusiasm and support for the application shown from the people of Exeter and championed by the Express & Echo newspaper."

The decision makes a hat-trick of accolades for the city this year.

It has already been chosen as the first major stop of Her Majesty's national tour to mark the 50th year of her reign. And the Jubilee Baton Relay will also call there on its way to launch the Commonwealth Games.

Express & Echo editor Steve Hall said: "Seventeen cities put their names forward for this and the Lord Chancellor's office is saying our campaign was a strong factor in Exeter's success.

"The supplement we put together as part of a joint bid with the city council examined our ancient city mayorality, which is the oldest in the country.

"The whole city is getting excited because of the Golden Jubilee. We'll be celebrating on a number of occasions - it's a terrific time for the city."

The Jubilee year is set to offer an all-round high for Exeter after the difficulties foot and mouth epidemic cast over the area in 2001. The Met Office is being relocated there, SWEB is set to create several hundred new jobs in the area and a new film studios is about to be built.