Boris Johnson joined Leader of Havering Council Michael White at the opening of a new visitor centre in Romford on Wednesday.

The Mayor of London was in the borough to launch his electoral campaign, and spent time touring Romford with Cllr White and addressing a group of small business owners at the Brickyard Bar and Grill, South Street.

Cllr White said: “I guided him round the Liberty. It was swamped – people love him. We made our way past the station up to the Brickyard where he made a fantastic speech to local businesses.”

The Mayor of London also met newly crowned Face of Essex Ruby Cooke.

Cllr White said the visitor centre had received 140 visitors on its first day. “It has been a long ambition of mine to have a destination for people visiting Havering to find out all the wonderful things we have to offer in the borough.

“We’ve got some fantastic history and culture. What I wanted was a place where people could go to find out all the things happening. It’s brilliant.”

Boris launched his ‘nine-point plan’ for Greater London at the Brickyard.

The London mayoral elections will be held on Thursday May 3. Other candidates standing for election are Siobhan Benita (Independent), Carlos Cortiglia (British National Party), Jenny Jones (Green Party), Ken Livingstone (Labour Party), Brian Paddick (Liberal Democrats) and Lawrence Webb (UK Independence Party).