Southampton has appointed UK's first local authority chief scientific adviser.

Professor AbuBakr Bahaj, head of Southampton University 's energy and climate change division, has taken on the role to champion science and engineering as a key driver of the economy and ensure the city uses science effectively in all policy-making.

Council leader Richard Williams, who sits on two university panels, said the appointment would be crucial to the future development of the city.

He said: “Excellence in science and engineering is critical to Southampton's prosperity and well-being.

“Southampton is brimming with ideas and the university has unique skills to help us as a council make our future greener and brighter. ”

Professor Bahaj added: “Our aim will be focussed on tackling future challenges, such as how a city could operate under a changing climate and resource depletion and the environmental, social and economic impacts of these changes.

"The University has some of the world's best engineers and scientists who are working to tackle these challenges and I am proud to be part of the city's thriving scientific community.”