High Wycombe's new mayor has been officially elected, saying she is "honoured and privileged" to take on the role.

Cllr Andrea Baughan is now the town's new mayor for the next 12 months, with new councillor Nabeela Rana by her side as mayoress.

She was sworn into the role at the annual meeting of the Charter Trustees, which was held on June 12 - the first face-to-face full meeting since before the start of the pandemic.

The selection of the mayor is usually a huge and traditional affair, with a mayor-making ceremony in the town centre attended by hundreds of residents who boo or cheer as each dignitary is weighed on stage.

But because of Covid-19, it was scaled back this year - instead taking place at the council offices in Queen Victoria Road, with no procession.

Her two chosen charities that her mayoralty will raise money for are the Epilepsy Society and The Ducklings Trust, which was set up to raise cash for equipment in the maternity units at Stoke Mandeville and Wycombe Hospital.

She said: “I’m honoured and feel very privileged to have been elected town mayor of High Wycombe – a truly wonderful place.

"I believe I am the 14th woman to hold this position. The position of mayor comes with great responsibility and I will hold office with pride and dignity.

"The Charter Trustees and Mayoralty is non-political; it’s about working together for the benefit of our town, our history and our community.

"I’d like to thank my fellow Charter Trustees for the trust that they have placed in me.

"I am honoured that Reverend Wendy Bull and Imam Haseeb Jahangir have accepted the position of mayor’s chaplains”.

Reflecting on the difficult past year, Cllr Baughan added: "This has been a very challenging year for everyone and I would like to pay tribute to the amazing teams here in High Wycombe for ensuring that both residents and local companies have had the help and support that they needed.

"One thing that has stood out like a shining star is the amazing people of High Wycombe and their kindness, compassion and strength as a community – coming together to help each other, offering food, picking up prescriptions and giving lifts for people who were having vaccinations.

"I work at Stoke Mandeville Hospital and my ward (and those of my other colleagues) was awash with gifts, food, kind words and colourful pictures. This generosity equally applied to the NHS team in Wycombe."

She also thanked former mayor Cllr Maz Hussain, who served in the role for two years.

He said: "I would like to place on record my thanks to every Charter Trustee, irrespective of political colour, for how they responded to the pandemic.

"And under these circumstances I would also like to thank every resident in the town who have rallied around to help one another during a very difficult period for everyone."

Charter Trustee Councillor Lesley Clarke OBE was elected Deputy Mayor with her husband Marten Clarke.

The deputy mayor said “I was both honoured and delighted to be asked by the new Mayor of High Wycombe to become her Deputy Mayor. I know Andrea will be a superb Mayor and I look forward to working with the Mayor and her Mayoress”.