Justin Bieber thanks hometown mayor for support

Troubled pop star Justin Bieber has thanked supporters in his Canadian hometown after the local mayor penned a special article backing the under-fire singer.

The Baby hitmaker was detained by police in Florida last week (ends26Jan14) on suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI), resisting arrest without violence and driving with an expired licence.

He also turned himself in to cops in Toronto, Canada on Wednesday (29Jan14) and was officially charged in connection with an alleged assault on a limousine driver in the city last year (Dec13).

Despite Bieber's problems, the mayor of his hometown Stratford, Dan Matheison, has voiced his support for the singer in a local newspaper article, and Bieber is clearly grateful for the backing.

In a post on Twitter.com, he writes, "Never forget where you come from or those who supported you before anyone else. Still the small town kid. Thanks."

In The Beacon Herald article, Matheison writes, "As far as I'm concerned, he is a 19-year-old person who has made some errors. I don't condone them, but I also understand that we all have made errors in our life. I hope for his sake that he can get a reset, and get back to music and doing what he loves."

Bieber is currently free on bail, and his father Jeremy posted a picture of the star asleep in bed on Thursday (30Jan14), alongside the caption "safe and sound".

The singer has pleaded not guilty to the DUI charges and is due back in a Florida court on Valentine's Day (14Feb14). He is scheduled to appear in court in Toronto for the assault case on 10 March (14).