Britain’s oldest town has become its newest city - and community leaders hope its new status will spark better jobs and wages for residents.

City status was conferred on Colchester during a special meeting of the council. 

A procession of dignitaries, councillors, charities, people dressed as Romans and a number of refugees who have made a life in the city was led by the Town Serjeant and Colchester Pipes and Drums to the Town Hall ahead of the ceremony.

The Lord Lieutenant of Essex, Mrs Jennifer Tolhurst, presented Mayor Tim Young with the letters patent, a document written on parchment officially recognising Colchester as a city.

Senior councillors hope the city’s educational, historical and military assets will help it achieve an economic boost.

Mr Young said: “I think we will see Colchester attract more investment, so better jobs, higher wages, good skills. 

“That’s what has happened in Chelmsford. Chelmsford was made a city 10 years ago, I think we can learn from our colleagues there because there’s a definite improvement and feel about Chelmsford since they were made a city.

“We think we can do it even better than that, because we’ve got more tourism potential and we know that there are businesses queuing up to come to Colchester.”

Council leader David King said: “We know that city status is a recognition and also a raising of national profile, perhaps indeed international profile.”

Founded in the first century BC, Colchester was the first capital of Roman Britain until Celtic rebel leader Boudica defeated the Roman Ninth Legion in AD60.

Mrs Tolhurst outlined the city’s strong relationship with royalty, from the founding of Colchester Castle by William the Conqueror to more recent visits by Queen Elizabeth II.

She said: “In this age, the time has now undeniably come for Colchester to be recognised as a modern, vibrant, multifaceted city.”

Colchester is one of eight former towns to have been awarded city status as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee civic honours, one of her last acts before she died in September this year.

The newly-named Colchester City Council also unanimously voted to change its title, from Colchester Borough Council.