Buckhurst Hill Parish Council has welcomed a new clerk.

After eight months Kevin O'Brien, a former senior project manager on Redbridge council's School Expansion Programme, was selected for the role.

Mr O'Brien, who is also the council's finance officer, said: "After a number of years in the same role I felt that I needed a fresh new challenge.

"One of the main reasons for wanting to become clerk was the enthusiasm and positivity shown at my interview and subsequently by the council chairman and fellow councillors for promoting the parish and serving the community in its broadest sense.”

Speaking at Thursday’s council meeting, parish council chairman Aniket Patel thanked deputy clerk Val Evans for her work over the last eight months when she was acting parish clerk.

"I'm very much looking forward to working with you all (councillors) and excited about what we might be able to achieve over the next 12 months and beyond."