An Alliance Party councillor has been appointed High Sheriff of Belfast for 2018, marking the first time the ceremonial post has been held by someone other than a unionist since 2000.

Carole Howard will, for the next 12 months, serve as the Queen’s judicial representative in Belfast.

The role is now largely a ceremonial one which now rotates between the major political parties in Belfast under the d’Hondt mechanism.

Sinn Féin and the SDLP typically decline nomination for the post.

Ms Howard said: “I am delighted to officially become High Sheriff of Belfast. It is a role that is for all the people in the city.

“This position only became available after Alliance pushed for it to become more inclusive than it had been over the past two decades.

“It is important all civic posts are as representative of the wider community as possible and, with High Sheriff now being allocated on the d’Hondt mechanism for all parties who are able to and wish to nominate for it, that is the case.”