Epsom’s dynamic mayor has already set up a community fund and now wants to create a forum to bring people from different religions together.

Councillor Chris Frost, 69, became mayor in May and has already got donors to pledge £25,000 towards the new Epsom and Ewell Community Fund to aid local groups.

Next on his agenda, Coun Frost wants to bring religious representatives together to create an interfaith forum where members can talk about issues of common interest like healthcare and pensions.

He said: "I think that there is so much bad publicity about certain religions in the world because of some of the conflicts going on and it’s not typical of the people by and large.

"There are some extremists in probably every walk of life but certain extremists are getting a lot of news coverage in the Middle East at the moment.

"People who have lived here many years, they don’t have an opportunity to get know what each religion is really about and what’s behind it and the reasons why they follow the things they do.

"It’s really to create a greater awareness of amongst people of all religions and none so they understand it better and will stop any potential differences of opinion in our community."

In an interview last month, the former industrial chemist says he does not have a religion himself and he is not "got any particular drum to beat".

He said: "I would say I’m agnostic as a scientist. I can see the arguments both sides and I can’t make up my mind. Maybe if this process develops, maybe that will help and I will know what to do."

Coun Frost, who is married to Councillor Liz Frost, is supporting Epsom and Ewell Community Fund, Age Concern Epsom and Ewell and Epsom Riding for the Disabled this year.

Coun Frost said: "It’s raising money within the borough for people who live and need help in the borough and need help. It’s a bit of self-help really and to encourage groups to get together and raise funds."

When asked what motivated him to set up the fund, he said: "It’s a way of giving to the community some of the benefits I have been lucky enough to have.

"We can help anyone, whatever need arises next week, next year, there is some money there ready to step in and we can help."

Giving an example of the difference that small sums can make, Coun Frost spoke about cutting the grass at the Woodcote Millennium Green community garden which he set up.

He said he used to hire a lawnmower to laboriously cut the grass there, but now they have managed to buy a tractor mower and he can cut it in less than three hours.

The Arsenal fan comes from North London, has lived in Epsom for nearly 40 years and has two children and three grandchildren.

After university, Mr Frost joined BP as an industrial chemist but then took business studies at night school for three years and moved into human resources.

He said: "It’s only looking back that I have discovered there this pattern that I’m more interested in dealing with unpredictable people than predictable chemicals."

Mr Frost, who was a county councillor for 16 years, was elected to Epsom Council in 1999, lost his seat in 2003 and was re-elected in 2011.

If you would like to help create an interfaith forum for Epsom, please contact the mayor's secretary on 01372 732000 or via contactus@epsom-ewell.gov.uk