LABOUR councillors in Gravesham have chosen their new mayor for the coming year.

Northfleet East councillor Narinder Thandi will replace the current mayor Councillor Valerie Ashenden at the annual council meeting in May. Cllr Thandi, who is currently the deputy mayor, has been a post office worker for the last 22 years and a councillor since 1997.

He serves as a governor at Northfleet School for Girls and is also general secretary of the Sikh temple in Clarence Place.

The 49-year-old father-of-two said: "It is an honour to be selected by the Labour group as its choice of mayor and I look forward to being elected at the annual council in May.

"I feel very proud and privileged a person from an ethnic minority has been chosen for this important office. However, my aim will be to represent everyone, irrespective of his or her race, creed or politics."

His daughter, Rupinder, 23, will be the mayoress. Councillor Richard Smith is the Labour group's choice for deputy mayor.