HEREFORD'S new mayor wants to raise money for the city to have its own blood bike after being selected for the role.

Councillor Sharon Michael was chosen by fellow Hereford City Councillors to carry out role for the next year on Monday with Cllr Sue Boulter serving as her deputy.

Cllr Michael has serving on the city and county council since being elected in 2011.

As part of her mayoral term Cllr Michael will raise money for two charities: the Herefordshire branch of the National Autistic Society and Blood Bikers.

A blood bike is an emergency medical motorcycle courier that transports urgent items including blood, X-rays, samples, drugs, and documentation between hospitals and other healthcare facilities

"I have got a family friend's son who has just been diagnosed with autism and having worked in a school I know that there are a range of children on the autistic spectrum so wanted to help," added Cllr Michael.

"The blood bikers work out of Hereford County Hospital although Hereford hasn't got its own blood bike. We have got dedicated volunteers on site 24/7 but have to borrow a bike from elsewhere.

"This year I want to raise enough money to buy our own blood bike stationed at Hereford County Hospital and run it for a year."

Cllr Michael has previously been heavily involved in the St Nicholas Community Association and tackling parking issues in Broomy Hill and Greyfriars areas.

"It's a great honour to represent Hereford and its people," said Cllr Michael.

"I have also represented people who need help with multiple occupancy homes (HMO) and I'm keen to see the HMO policy tweaked.

"We need HMOs and the guidelines mean that six unrelated people can be occupying a three-bedroom house. It's a very simple system and needs to be tightened up. Especially with the parking issues in some residential areas we currently have, it could mean a three-bedroom house could have six cars which causes problems again.

"This is a situation I am working on at a county level with my fellow county councillor Anthony Powers."