SOUTHAMPTON has a new knight after one of the city's oldest traditions was performed recently.

The 229th knight of The Green was installed at the Southampton Old Bowling Green.

Former gentleman commoner, Graham Hart, became a "sir" at the club, which is home to the world's oldest bowling green dating from 1299.

In a ceremony which dates back to 1776, city mayor Parvin Damani and 14 existing knights watched "Sir" Bert Baker perform the instalment.

The club has been able to use the title "sir" within its walls after the House of Lords agreed to it more than 100 years ago.

As revealed in the Daily Echo three months ago, it could be one of the last of these annual ceremonies. A new car park needs to be found because adjacent land, currently used for parking, was sold off for a housing development. It could put the club in decline.

Mr Hart, 58, from Totton, said: "It was super to win. It's a long old tradition and a long time for a competition to keep going."

The newest knight is the winner of an annual knighthood competition. The knighthood game is played every August for up to ten days before an eventual winner emerges.

Presenting the silver knighthood medal "sir" Bert urged the new knight to uphold the traditions of the club in uncertain times.