Scroll down for videos.

High Wycombe welcomed a new mayor during one of the town’s oldest traditions today (Saturday).

Former deputy mayor Councillor Sarfaraz Khan Raja took the chains from Cllr Brian Pearce at the mayor making ceremony in the town centre following a unanimous vote.

Cllr Raja was sworn in as mayor at a meeting of the Charter Trustees this morning, which was followed by the official “weigh in” and Cllr Marten Clarke was named the deputy mayor.

In an ancient tradition that is unique to High Wycombe, residents get to see if politicians and dignitaries have been overindulging during their time in office, as they take a seat on the scales in front of the crowds.

Dozens of people gathered in Frogmoor to see which politicians had behaved themselves and which had overindulged.

Both Cllrs Raja and Pearce maintained their weight but Wycombe MP Steve Baker was found to have binged in the past year, with the town crier announcing: “And some more!”

Speaking about his appointment, Cllr Raja said: “It’s brilliant. It’s a great honour for me to become the mayor of the town of High Wycombe.

“My plan is hopefully to highlight the good work that volunteers do in our community, because volunteers spend so much time doing charity work and other work but they’re not highlighted.”

And paying tribute to his predecessor, he said: “Brian was an excellent mayor. The times I had to go and deputise for him he would always give me hints on what to do and what not to do.

“He’s a lovely gentleman, just a brilliant person.”

Cllr Pearce said he would miss being mayor, adding that he was sorry to step down and it made him “very sad”.

He said: “I wish I could carry on. It has been a marvellous year and I have thoroughly enjoyed it.

“I feel very proud and honoured to represent this town.”

He said the highlight of his year as mayor was standing in the centre of Adams Park, the Wycombe Wanderers’ home ground, to announce the launch of the Poppy Appeal in front of 4,000 people.

He said: “I walked across to my disabled son and gave him a big hug. That’s the only point that I thought, ‘I’m going to crack’ but I managed to keep my composure.”

Speaking about his successor, he said Cllr Raja was an “excellent choice”.

He said: “He will make a great mayor, I know he will.

“He’s passionate about the town, born in High Wycombe, so he will be a good mayor.”

Wycombe MP Steve Baker said: “Our traditional weighing in of the mayor, councillors, MP and other local figures is unique in the UK and great fun.

“Time and again, people suggest it for all MPs, on Parliament Square.

“Strangely, my Parliamentary colleagues are resistant.

“Congratulations to Brian on his successes this year and I look forward to Sarfaraz representing our town as first citizen.”