The Lord Mayor of the City of London attended an event to celebrate the completion of improvement works in the grounds of a historic community building.

Finchley resident Alderman Michael Bear unveiled a plaque to commemorate Community Spaces which gave £100,000 to Avenue House in East End Road, Finchley.

The money was used for specific projects within the grounds such as providing new fencing, planting evergreen plants including mahonias, berberis and holly and repairing walls.

Chairman of Avenue House Estate Trust, Bill Tyler said: “The event was a huge success and we had well over 100 people here.”

However, despite the successful improvement project, the estate is facing a black hole after losing £35,200 in its annual funding.

It spends £80,000 alone on maintaining the grounds, designed by the famous landscape gardener Robert Marnock who died in 1889.

The trust has said it needs to receive around £30,000 in funding before the end of March otherwise it will have to hand the estate to Barnet Council.

A public meeting will be held on Thursday February 24 at 7pm to discuss the estate’s situation.

To make a donation to Avenue House visit the website www.avenuehouse.org.uk or send a cheque made payable to Avenue House Estate Trust to Avenue House, 17 East End Road, N3 3QE.