DESIGNER Gresham Blake has created a new robe for Brighton and Hove Mayor Pete West – and a bespoke tartan for the city.

Councillor West was fitted with the red, faux fur-trimmed robe at Brighton Town Hall.

The event marked the launch of Brighton and Hove Tartan – plus a gin cocktail made by Brighton Gin called Mayor’s Robe.

Mr Blake, who designed and created both the robe and the unique tartan cloth, was there to present it to the mayor.

Cllr West said: “I am so proud of our local businesses coming together to mark this occasion.

“I think the robe itself is great and the launch of Brighton and Hove Tartan is a very special and unique thing for our city.

“The mayor’s robe itself is usually very heavy but I am pleased to say that this one is a lot more comfortable to wear and very elegantly designed.

“I think they have done a wonderful job.

“You can get so hot in them so I appreciate the cooler feeling of this one.

“The new tartan design is really exciting for Brighton and the colours used capture so much of what our city is about, from its regal history to what makes it such a diverse place to live.”

Mr Blake, whose shop is in Bond Street, decided the city should have its own tartan after speaking to his clients and other residents.

The finished cloth was made with colours to represent different parts of the city, such as a mixture of blues to signify the sea, green for the South Downs and gold and pink for the city’s decadence.

Mr Blake said: “I am pleased to be able to present the mayor with his new robe and hope it serves him well.

“With some Scottish people looking to leave the UK I thought our new tartan design was a good gesture to show that I don’t want them to leave.

“I hope people like it because now it is official.”