A former magistrate has been awarded the British Empire Medal for his services in helping the elderly and the Asian community.

Lalit Nagpaul, has been a resident of Barnet for 48 years and involved with the Hindu Cultural Society’s Day Centre for the past 18 years.

As the man running the Day Centre, he has taken elderly members to Calais on sea-side outings and organised stage performances for them which he directed and produced himself.

For his service for over a decade Mr Nagpaul was given the British Empire Medal a medal awarded for “meritorious civil” service worthy of recognition last Friday at the Tower of London.