Harpenden Town Council has elected its new mayor and deputy.

Councillor Pip Liver is the new mayor and councillor Gill Haynes is the new deputy.

They were elected during the first meeting of the council's municipal year - the annual council meeting on May 13.

Town mayor for 2023/24, Cllr Fiona Gaskell, passed on the mayoral chain to Cllr Liver during a valedictory speech at the meeting.

In return, Cllr Liver presented the past town mayor’s badge, certificate and album to Cllr Gaskell.

Cllrs Liver said: "It is a privilege to become mayor of Harpenden and an honour to serve its people.

"I am very much looking forward to supporting our community and representing the town council throughout the year."

Guests included Gerald Corbett and Virginia Corbett for the Hertfordshire Lieutenancy, The High Sheriff of Hertfordshire, Annie Brewster, and the mayor of Houghton Regis, councillor Jimmy Carroll.

The town mayor is the chairman of the council and represents Harpenden at events outside the area, as well as attending events in the town.

The mayor also hosts a number of charity events and fundraising activities to raise funds for their nominated charities, which, this year, are Youth Talk and the Harpenden Trust’s Wellbeing Hub.