Sir Winston Churchill's great grandson has become the youngest Lord Mayor of Westminster on record.

Duncan Sandys, 35, was elected as the 45th holder of the annual post at a Westminster City Council meeting.

Mr Sandys, who first became a councillor in 1998, is expected to attend more than 1000 engagements during the year in his new role.

His politician grandfather, Lord Duncan-Sandys, who held a variety of government posts during and after the Second World War, was married to Diana Churchill, daughter of Sir Winston.

Mr Sandys said: "While I am immensely proud of my family heritage, I am looking forward to making a further contribution to public life in Westminster.

"It is an exceptional privilege to be elected the Lord Mayor of Westminster, representing the heart of the nation's capital. I will be devoting much of my time and energy to children's and young people's issues."

Mr Sandys is married to Mary Brown, a former communications director in former US President George W Bush's administration.

The couple have a one-year-old son, Julian, who was successfully treated for a blood disorder at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington.

Mr Sandys's chosen charity is the St Andrew's Club in Victoria, a youth club which was founded in 1866.