THE first public meeting of a new party set up to support independent council candidates in Barnet is to be held tonight.

The founders of the Residents' Association of Barnet (RAB) are aiming to help as many independent candidates as possible stand for election on May 6.

They say the party is a loose alliance of residents whose first priority is the interests of residents in their neighbourhoods.

The meeting is to be held in St Michael's Church Hall in Golders Green Road from 6.30pm.