The new mayor of Barking and Dagenham pledged to back a charity that supports Olympic hopefuls as he took up his post weeks before the Games open.

Father-of-two Tony Ramsay, 57, will raise funds for the Living the Dream trust, which gives financial support to Barking and Dagenham youngsters who have set their sights on competing in the Olympic Games.

The chairman of Barking and Dagenham Labour group has also vowed to support St Francis Hospice, which looks after terminally ill patients in Romford.

Cllr Ramsey said: “I am thrilled to be the mayor in this year of the London Olympics and the Diamond Jubilee. I bring with me a great team with my wife Jeanne Alexander, a long standing councillor as mayoress and our son Ben Ramsay as the mayor’s consort. I am really looking forward to what promises to be a wonderful year for us all.”

The Eastbrook ward councillor is also a school governor in Barking and Dagenham and supports Dagenham and Redbridge FC.

The data analyst has lived in Barking and Dagenham for 33 years and is married to Cllr Alexander, the Barking and Dagenham cabinet member for communities. He took over from Cllr Milton McKenzie on Friday.