A trailblazing lawyer for Islington Council has been made a CBE for her services to helping children.

Uma Mehta joined the authority in 2007 and has been recognised by the Queen in the New Year’s Honours for her work in making a difference to vulnerable youngsters.

In her role, she oversees the work of the community services team, specialising in child care law and adoption and community care law.

She is also a member of a number of boards including the children law panel and is a special advisor to the Victoria Climbié foundation, set up in memory of the eight year old who was tortured to death at the hands of her aunt and boyfriend in Haringey.

Kenya-born Ms Mehta has trained a large number of family judges as well as social workers both inside and outside Islington Council, to equip them to give them best evidence possible in child protection cases.

Among her many other achievements since qualifying in 1991, has been her instrumental role in making a 26-week deadline for childcare cases a reality for the judiciary and local authorities, putting Islington at the forefront of the field.

She said: “I’m sincerely thankful and very humbled to be recognised with such an honour. I’m overwhelmed and hope to continue doing the work that I love for many years to come.”