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The new Mayor of South Tyneside is Councillor Pat Hay.

Councillor Hay was officially sworn into the role of Mayor during Â鶹ÊÓƵ's Annual Meeting held this week.

The new Mayor will carry out her civic duties alongside her Mayoress, and friend of 35 years, Mrs Jean Copp.

The Mayor said: "It is a huge honour and real privilege that my colleagues elected me for the role of Mayor of South Tyneside. I am deeply touched.

"Jean and I are very excited but incredibly humbled to be representing this amazing Borough and its residents. We have such fantastic community spirit and great civic pride and I'm so proud to come from South Shields.

"We are particularly looking forward to meeting the people in our communities, including some of our wonderful frontline workers to thank them for everything they have done in supporting people throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

"This past year has been a terrible time for so many of our residents. We are now on the road to recovery and I'm keen to get out and help to lift the spirits of the people of South Tyneside."

Councillor Hay was born and bred in South Shields and attended Gilbert Street Infants, Stanhope Road Junior and Stanhope Comprehensive schools.

On leaving school, Councillor Hay went to work in Covent Garden, London, for a diamond merchant, before returning to her hometown after a few years. She also worked in retail.

Councillor Hay later spent time travelling with her Merchant Navy husband Ian until their son was born in 1985. Working around family commitments, Councillor Hay became a Youth Worker in South Tyneside.

After her daughter's birth in 1990, Councillor Hay became a home's manager initially working with older people then later with adults with physical and learning disabilities. She also worked as the Managing Director of South Tyneside Community Empowerment Network.

An interest in politics and her work in local communities led Councillor Hay to become a councillor in 2012. She continues to serve the Harton ward of South Shields.

Councillor Hay has chosen The Customs House and Cancer Connections - two charities close to her heart - as the main beneficiaries of the Mayor's Charity during her time in office.