Patricia Hay-Justice will be the next mayor of Croydon, it was announced last night. 

The Addiscombe councillor will succeed Councillor Manju Shahul-Hameed for the 2015/16 mayoral year, leader Tony Newman told yesterday's full council meeting. 

Coun Hay-Justice, currently deputy mayor, was absent from the meeting after the death of her sister. 

She will be formally appointed mayor in May.