Leicester City Council's first humanist chaplain has vowed to work with all faith groups throughout his year of office.

Dr Allan Hayes was appointed by Lord Mayor Colin Hall, but debate has raged on the Mercury's letters page and online forums on whether a humanist can be a chaplain because it is a traditionally religious role.

However, Dr Hayes said: "Let's not get bogged down in what the dictionary definition of a chaplain is, I'll define this role in my own way.

"I provide advice and guidance to the Lord Mayor. The role is what you make of it.

"As a humanist, I recognise religion but only as a man-made creation. I respect people of all religious persuasions, believers and non-believers, and have already worked with them and will continue to do so.

"But behind every religion, if you strip away the supernatural claims, is the use of philosophy, morals and history, which all play a part in helping us live better lives.

"Whereas a Christian chaplain may have advised the lord mayor from a religious perspective, I use a non-religious perspective."

As chaplain, he can represent the lord mayor at some engagements, give advice and guidance, and accompany him to full council meetings.

One of Coun Hall's first moves as Lord Mayor was to stop the practice of prayers before council meetings, and he later did not attend a civic service at the cathedral.

But Dr Hayes said he planned to encourage all communities and faith groups in Leicester to work together and said that he was happy to attend services on behalf of other faiths.

He has recently attended two services in the city's cathedral, and represented the Lord Mayor on a pilgrimage around various faith centres, including Sikh, Christian, Jewish, Quaker and Bahai.

He said: "Appointing a humanist chaplain wasn't a move designed to offend or challenge other faith groups in the city. It was the Lord Mayor's decision to appoint someone with similar beliefs, but who could also reach out to each of the communities in the area."

He also said that there has now been an increased interest in the Leicester Secularist Society, of which he is president.

"A few of our members have been shocked at the level of attention secularism in the city has had over recent weeks, but I think it's a good thing to have an open public debate about the beliefs we all hold."

Sixth century Greek philosophers were the first to attempt to explain the world in terms of human reason rather than myths and tradition. Humanism itself stems from this approach.

Dr Hayes is also a trustee of British Humanist Association and of the Sea of Faith Network and is Humanist representative on Leicester's Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education.

A chaplain defined

Chaplain, noun: a member of the clergy attached to a private chapel, institution, ship, regiment, etc.

Clergy, noun: the body of all people ordained for religious duties, especially in the Christian Church.

Definitions from the Oxford English Dictionary