THE new Mayor of Brent was announced on Monday night as Councillor Harbhajan Singh.

Councillor Singh was elected at the annual meeting of Brent Council and officially appointed at the mayor-making ceremony - witnessed by councillors, voluntary and community organisations and the winners of the Brent Community Champion awards.

The new mayor and mayoress, Mrs Kawal Singh OBE, began their year in office by announcing the mayors charities, which are: * Asian People's Disability Alliance **St Luke's Hospice **Shooting Stars

Mr Singh has been a member of the Labour Party for more than 10 years and councillor for the Welsh Harp ward since 2002.

The mayor, who was born in Basra, Iraq, has lived in Brent for 44 years and is married with two children and four grandchildren.

He will be supported by the deputy mayor - Councillor Aslam Choudry and the deputy mayoress, Jamila Begum Choudry.

The popular outgoing mayor, Councillor Jim O'Sullivan, thanked Brent's new mayor for his support and wished him the best for the year ahead.