A NEW mayor for the borough of Haringey was invested on Monday.

Amid pomp and ceremony Bruce Grove ward councillor Herbie Brown took over the reins of office from Cllr Maureen Dewar, who had served the borough for the last year.

Addressing the council and an audience of special guests, Cllr Brown, 61, said he intended to use his year in office to enhance the profile of the borough's young people.

He said: 'For too long there have been young men and ladies who have not gained the recognition they deserve and I will do everything I can to help the youth of this community during my time as mayor.'

Cllr Brown came to London from Jamaica in 1952. He spent several years with the Royal Army Medical Corps and the greater part of his working life was spent as a post office phone engineer.

Cllr Brown is active within the scouting movement and has held the post of assistant district commissioner. He is a school governor and was made a Freeman of London in 1985 for his community work.

Unmarried Cllr Brown's mayoress for the year will be his sister-in-law, Grace. He announced his fundraising work for the year would support mental health projects and research into sickle-cell anaemia.

Deputy Mayor for 2000/01 is Alexandra ward councillor Mary Neuner. Her consort will be Alan Doobie, a former councillor and Mayor of Haringey.

Outgoing mayor Cllr Dewar was highly praised for her work during the millennium year. She announced she had raised up to £10,000 for the Mayor's Charities, which have supported the borough's young people and the elderly.