IT is not often the Mayor of Barnet is knocked off his position as guest of honour at an event.

But it was a six-year-old potential political prodigy who took centre stage when two Councillor Finns came together at Hendon Town Hall yesterday.

Little Finn Nunnington, a school boy from Sheffield, was recently elected chairman of his school's council and was keen to travel down to the capital to meet his (almost) namesake Councillor Anthony Finn, incumbent Mayor of the borough.

The meeting came about after Finn's grandfather, Jeremy Biggin, mentioned the quirky similarity to the mayor's assistant during a business call.

The pair met in the Mayor's parlour, in The Burroughs, over lunch, and Finn (Jnr) was able to quiz the Hendon ward councillor on all things political.

Afterwards, the Broomhill Infant School pupil said: “It has been fun.

“It is the first time I have been to London and it is really exciting and good.

“But the best bit is going to be stuffing my face with buns.”

He was also keen to hear about how to be a councillor from someone who had been doing the job for 20 years.

Finn said: “On my council we suggest things we want in our school, like more sports teams.

“If you hadn't been on the council before then you get voted for and I got chosen for it.

“Cllr Finn taught me the main thing he does is when people are talking he has to keep hitting the hammer to make them listen.”

Finn was joined on his trip by his ten-year-old brother Ben, his grandfather and his father Ian, who said: “He's not stopped talking about it, London is a big attraction for him.

“I was really pleased when this was organised. Finn can be a bit shy but he has really enjoyed meeting the Mayor.

“I think he could make it as a politician. He comes back from school and is always keen to talk about the meetings and what their going to do.”

The family had visited the RAF museum, in Grahame Park, in the morning, before heading over to the town hall for a special tour of the historic building.

They handed the Mayor a ceremonial pocket knife, made in Sheffield, and a bottle of traditional relish in return for the smallest coin he was carrying, as a sign of confirming a friendship.

Cllr Finn, who is the 46th Mayor of the borough, said: “This has been sweet, very nice.

“It is one of the perks of the job because you get to meet lots of different and interesting people.

“It is good to try and encourage kids to show an interest in politics. I like the fact he was voted on to the council, it seems like a very democratic system.

“I told Finn that first of all he must study and then he can worry about politics later.”