Enfield has a new mayor after the deputy for the past year was promoted to the role for the next 12 months.

Cllr Bernadette Lappage was sworn in to the ceremonial position to take over from Cllr Patricia Ekechi, for whom she had served as second in command for the past year, with the pair hugging as the robes and chains were passed.

Speaking in front of a packed council and public gallery, including her husband of 30 years Andrew and son Edward, Cllr Lappage said it had been “quite a journey”, and thanked her family for helping her to this stage.

Born in Forty Hill, Ms Lappage was first elected to represent Enfield Lock ward in 1998, but lost her seat in 2002.

She was then re-elected to the council as representative of Jubilee in 2006, but did not stand four years later before returning to Enfield politics in 2014.

She said: “I am so proud to be part of the Enfield community and in my year as deputy mayor I have seen the kindness that surrounds us.

 “I was born in Enfield, I attended school in Enfield and I have had a son go to school here as well, I have been as officer of the council and I have run my own business in Enfield, I know this borough very well.”

She said her charity for the year will be “Enfield Sounds Great”, a new organisation which will focus on attempting to get young people into music, and announced an “instrument amnesty”, encouraging people to hand in old and unused items to be passed on.

Cllr Lappage also confirmed her deputy for the year will be Cllr Christine Hamilton, of Enfield Highway ward, and issued a friendly warning to the councillors about their behaviour in debate over the next year.

She said: “I am looking forward to the good and healthy debate between the groups, and I am sure that the opposition will keep the council in order.

“Hopefully we will not have to resort to putting anyone on the naughty step – we have one of those if we need it.”