Merton has a new mayor.

Lower Morden Councillor Mary Curtin will officially take over the role from outgoing mayor Marsie Skeete.

Mrs Curtin moved to Morden in 1984 and set up a charity due to the lack of community places to go with her husband following his stroke, other than the local pub.

This prompted her to start the charity FISH (Friends In St Helier) 30 years ago which aims to engage the over 50’s in all aspects of life and prevent isolation by organising lunch clubs, befriending sessions and holidays.

She said she was thrilled by the honour

"I am very much looking forward to embedding into the community a sense of bringing together the younger and older communities to create a unified, warm and friendly Merton family," Mrs Curtin said.

"I fully recognise the responsibility of being the borough’s first citizen and will carry out my duties to the best of my abilities by serving the community and following in the footsteps of the many great mayors before me.”

She will officially begin her new position on May 23.