Winchester'S top judge, His Honour Judge Michael Brodrick, has been appointed as the city's new Honorary Recorder, restoring a tradition dating back to 1408.

In a small ceremony before a packed audience at the city's Crown Courts, Judge Brodrick was sworn in as the new Honorary Recorder in recognition of his contribution to the local community.

The role was originally introduced in order to give the city's civic leaders a legal advisor who could be trusted, with the city showing its gratitude by paying for a 'furred' gown and the upkeep of the incumbent's horses.

During the medieval period the duties of the holder included keeping accurate records, known as Recorda, from where the title comes and making sure that all judgements in the city were sound.

Because this meant there was someone with a high level of legal expertise in the city, it is thought that the post quickly began attracting complex legal cases to Winchester, something that continues today with high-profile trials, such as that of Rosemary West, often held at the courts.

Judge Brodrick's appointment also brings to an end a five-year gap since the retirement of Winchester's last Honorary Recorder, James Fox-Andrews QC, who stood down in 1999 because of poor health.

Speaking at the event, Judge Patrick Hooton, based at Winchester, said: "Those who decided that there should be another Honorary Recorder of Winchester should be congratulated because a wiser, more able or more just person could not have been chosen."

Receiving the honour, Judge Brodrick said: "This city has done me a great honour in inviting me to take this position.

"This means a great deal to me, but what I had failed to appreciate and what I'm delighted about is how much it meant to the staff at this court and those at the bar."