A CHURCH pastor and community champion has replaced Colchester’s youngest councillor.

Elizabeth Alake-Akinyemi was elected councillor for Greenstead after receiving 1,150 votes in Thursday’s local council elections, and replaces former councillor Molly Bloomfield who stepped down in March.

Julie Young, who has served on the council since 1998 and is the current leader of the Labour group, was re-elected with 1,159 votes.

Mrs Alake-Akinyemi, 42, runs the community fridge in Greenstead and said she wants to continue organising projects which improve people’s quality of life.

She said: “I have been involved in community organisations for years, but politics itself, only about a year.

“My husband and I have run a church in Greenstead for 11 years, and I also have a few community projects.”

The community fridge, Mrs Alake-Akinyemi explained, supports people by teaching people cooking skills.

She continued: “I want to continue attracting investment to Greenstead and engage in projects to improve people’s lives.

“I’m particularly interested in young people and improving their prospects for education, positioning them for a future that allows them to lead a fulfilling life.

“Being a councillor is a continuation of what I have been doing, but also allows me to look at investment that can help people in Greenstead.”