MORE housing for young people was high on the agenda during the annual Mayoral banquet in Worcester.

Councillor Roger Berry , who become the city’s new Mayor in May, hosted the bash at the Guildhall on Friday.

About 90 guests tucked into a three-course meal of salmon, chicken and vegetables, and fruit pie with custard.

The event culminated in a speech by Pat Brandum, chief executive of the WM Housing Group, on the plight of homelessness. The body manages about 23,000 houses across Worcestershire, Herefordshire and parts of the West Midlands.

Coun Berry, a former chair of the city council’s old housing committee, is a passionate advocate of the issue and is aiming to raise cash for the Maggs Day Centre and St Paul’s hostel during his year in office.

Councillor Geoff Williams, who went to the banquet, said: “It was a good speech which raised a very important, topical issue.”