The Lord Provost of Glasgow has announced the appointment of a new Poet Laureate for the city.

Councillor Sadie Docherty announced the appointment of Jim Carruth as Poet Laureate at a ceremony in Glasgow City Chambers. The appointment is part of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games legacy.

Carruth follows in the footsteps of Edwin Morgan and Liz Lochhead. He will act as a Poetry and Literature Ambassador for up to five years, raising the profile of poetry across the city and leading the celebration of Glasgow as a City of Poets.

He said: "I'm genuinely surprised and thrilled by the news. To be appointed Poet Laureate for the city at such a historic time for both Glasgow and Scotland is a little scary and hugely inspiring. I am greatly honoured to be following in the footsteps of Edwin Morgan and Liz Lochhead and to be part of a current landscape that already has one Glasgow poet as Scotland's makar and another as the UK's laureate.

"It is a unique moment for poetry in Glasgow and we need to make the most of it by introducing more and more new readers and writers across the city to the wonderful possibilities of verse. I can't wait to get started."

Lord Provost Docherty said: "No one has done more in the last decade to develop Glasgow's poets and poetry both at home and abroad and I'm sure that Jim will continue to inspire others through his own works and in developing the city's ambition to get more people writing.

"Glasgow is Scotland's cultural powerhouse and at a time when we are about to embark on the biggest sporting and cultural celebration the city has ever seen, it is absolutely right that we recognise the importance of the written word in our creative landscape. I've no doubt that Jim will make a fine Poet Laureate and look forward to seeing more of his endeavours."

Scots Makar, Liz Lochhead said: "Jim Carruth is a wonderful poet in his own right. And is that rare beast, one who cares deeply about the work of others.

"As one who was Glasgow's Poet Laureate until I had to resign this great honour on being granted a five-year tenure as Makar, or National Poet of Scotland, I am particularly thrilled by my colleague Jim Carruth's appointment."

Robyn Marsack, Director of the Scottish Poetry Library, said: "Jim Carruth is the poetry-engine of Glasgow, powering many events and initiatives that benefit poets and the wider community. I'm delighted that his appointment as Glasgow's Poet Laureate recognises both these achievements and his own considerable gifts as a poet. I'm sure his motto will be 'Let poetry flourish!'"