Barnet’s new mayor has pledged to raise money for cardiac equipment at the borough’s hospital.

The 60th Mayor of Barnet, Cllr Tony Vourou, was officially sworn in during the annual council meeting on Tuesday, May 21 at Hendon Town Hall.

One of his top priorities during his mayoral term will be fundraising for cardiac equipment at Barnet General Hospital.

He has also said that his chosen charities, which he will support during his term, will be Macmillan Cancer Support and Age UK Barnet.

Cllr Vourou is taking over from the borough's previous mayor, Cllr Nagus Narenthira, and will take on mayoral office with his wife, Mrs Caroline Vourou, as Mayoress.

In the same meeting, Cllr Danny Rich was sworn in as the Deputy Mayor, with his wife Laura Lassman as deputy mayoress.

Cllr Vourou, said he was "honoured" to be appointed the mayor of a borough he has lived in for 60 years.

The Labour councillor was born in Tottenham, but moved to Barnet in 1973 - where he has lived ever since.

He said: "I have lived here for six decades, and I look forward to giving something back to the many diverse communities that call our borough home.

"I look forward to meeting the many people and organisations that make Barnet the great place that it is during my year as Mayor.

Cllr Vourou added: "I would also like to extend my thanks to Cllr Narenthira for all of her hard work as Mayor over the last year."

Before switching to council duties, Tony Vourou initially led a career in garment manufacturing based in north London.

In 1999, he changed paths and became an event co-ordinator in the hospitality industry.

He was elected as a local councillor on May 5, 2022, and has been part of both the children’s and education committee and one of the planning committees.

Cllr Vourou has also been a school governor for two of Barnet's junior schools for the past 27 years, alongside his working life.