Croydon’s newly elected mayor Patricia Hay-Justice is determined to promote the borough as much as she can during her mayoral year.

She was voted in to the post last Thursday at Croydon Council’s annual general meeting and has already been carrying out duties, including at Addiscombe Carnival on Monday.

The Addiscombe ward councillor has resolved to promote the borough’s rich heritage celebrating its historic sites – beginning with the 1850s Davidson Lodge – as well as its green spaces.

During her acceptance speech the 47-year-old talked about her pride in the amount of regeneration taking place in the borough.

She said: “I’m really delighted, absolutely delighted.

“It’s a massive privilege to be in this position.

“We’ve got a fantastic town.

“It’s wonderful to actually be provided the opportunity to do this.

“We are on the edge of something very exciting happening.”

With a background in facilities and property management, her interest in housing extends to her charity work supporting CAYSH.

The mother-of-two has chosen this youth homelessness charity along with Mind in Croydon for her two mayoral charities.

Born in Birmingham, Coun Hay-Justice lived in Bath and Kent before choosing to put down roots in Croydon in 2003 where she met her husband.

Councillor Wayne Trakas-Lawlor has been appointed as the deputy mayor.

Also at the meeting Croydon Advertiser reporter Ian Austen got a standing ovation after the council leader Councillor Tony Newman nominated him to be given the freedom of Croydon for 46 years service as a journalist in the borough.