ANNA Mbachu was last night elected Mayor of Waltham Forest.

Cllr Mbachu, who represents the Leyton ward of Grove Green, said: "I am looking forward to meeting people from all backgrounds and walks of life, part of the one community that is Waltham Forest."

Cllr Mbachu nominated the Whipps Cross Hospital Big Push Appeal as her chosen charity.

The appeal is seeking to raise £350,000 towards the cost of improvements to the hospital's increasingly busy maternity department.

She will also raise money for the hospital's special care baby unit, where her child was treated.

Cllr Mbachu replaces Cllr Sheila Smith-Pryor as Mayor.

Cllr Smith-Pryor attended 237 engagements and raised £30,000 for local charities MS Action and Branches homeless shelter.

Deputy leader John Macklin paid tribute to her for continuing to perform her mayoral duties well despite the deaths of her two ward colleagues Noel Penstone and John Beanse.

Higham Hill ward Cllr Peter Woolcott was elected as deputy mayor.