MEET Britain's newest citizens - named at a landmark ceremony at County Hall, Dorchester.

People from Iraq, Russia, Nepal and Sri Lanka were among the 17 taking part in the ceremony, run by Dorset County Council's registration service.

The ceremony, attended by dignitaries including Dorchester Mayor David Barrett, saw the 500th foreign citizen nationalised since the ceremonies started in 2004.

Taxi operator Najim Alzabedy, 37, from Iraq, lives and works in Bournemouth and came to Britain 12 years ago.

He said: "We sat tests based on how Britain is today - the number of people living here, the number of foreigners and about politics and things like that.

"It was mainly about British culture and I couldn't wait for today while I was studying.

"I'm very glad to become a British citizen."

Hospital housekeeper Ebrima Markess, 32, from Gambia, has lived in Britain for seven years and has a 17-month-old son, Djibrid, with wife Elizabeth, 34.

Mr Markess said: "It makes me feel very happy and very proud to become a citizen and to have a passport to match the rest of my family."

Thachayini Jaysuthan, 23, from Sri Lanka, said: "The work on the citizenship test was not extremely hard and I am very happy to be here."

Ellie Farmer, 39, moved to Britain from New York state 30 years ago and works as a teacher for children with special needs in Bridport. She said: "I didn't really make the decision until this year to become a British citizen. I suppose I just felt that now was the right time to finally do it."

People from South Africa, Turkey, Zimbabwe and Trinidad and Tobago were also made British citizens at the ceremony.

A council spokesman said: "A citizenship ceremony celebrates the end of a journey for successful applicants seeking British nationality. It provides an occasion for new citizens to celebrate their new civic identity and also gives Dorset County Council the opportunity to welcome new citizens into the community.

"The ceremony was enthusiastically attended by elected members and other dignitaries from the local community, who welcomed the new citizens."

The ceremony was opened by the council's vice-chairman, John Wilson, and conducted by the county's superintendent registrar, Lorraine Ryall.

Dorset's High Sheriff, Adrian Scott, and the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Dorset, Pam Seaton, also attended.