OXFORD Lord Mayor-elect John Tanner is to limit his appearances at religious functions this year - because he does not believe in God.

The Littlemore city councillor will tonight become the 47th Lord Mayor of Oxford and potentially the most colourful in the city's history.

Mr Tanner has already caused a stir among some religious leaders by saying he would snub a number of events because he was an atheist.

He also said he would ditch the traditional mayoral robes, but wear the chains of office.

Mr Tanner, originally from South Wales, is the son of a Methodist minister and was once a practising Christian until he became disillusioned with the faith and became an atheist.

He said: "I think the whole thing about being Lord Mayor is that you are an ordinary councillor who has the honour of representing the city.

"Dressing up in fancy robes suggests you are rather more fancy than you are.

"I am an atheist, but as a local councillor I have attended Muslim, Christian and other events when invited.

"I will not be saying yes to every religious service.

"I think it's a bit hypocritical spending a lot of time in religious services, but I respect other people's faiths.

"I was an active Christian for many years but I found myself increasingly at odds with other Methodists and I changed my mind."

Dr Taj Hargey, chairman of the Muslim Education Centre of Oxford, said: "He has got to be even-handed and go to Muslim, secular and other functions, otherwise why has he wanted the job?

"If he is Lord Mayor he has a duty for the whole community. He needs to go to community functions because that is his job."

Mr Tanner, 17 years a councillor, is no stranger to controversy.

At a council meeting last week he called Liberal Democrat city councillor Caroline van Zyl a "patronising cow" before apologising.

Father Robert Byrne, of St Aloysiyus Gonzaga Catholic Parish Church, in Woodstock Road, said: "We respect his conscience, but at the same time it is unfortunate if he feels he cannot share our faith experience.

"Oxford is a diverse city and the Christian faith plays a large part in the life of the city."

The very Rev Nicholas Coulton, Sub Dean at Christ Church, said: "The Lord Mayor represents the city, which comprises many different forms of beliefs.

"We look forward to getting to know the new Lord Mayor and, as with previous Lord Mayors, having interesting conversations."

But Stuart Tett, treasurer of the Oxford Tibetan Buddhist centre, added: "Buddhists do not believe in God, so hopefully that will mean that the Lord Mayor will be attending our events."