Londoners wait for mayor vote result

Voters were on Thursday also choosing representatives to sit on the London Assembly, holding the mayor to account and examining key strategies which are important to the capital.

Counting was set to begin on Friday morning with the results due to be announced in the early evening. Early reports suggested a high turnout and a close race.

The mayoral election is widely seen as a two-horse race between Labour incumbent Ken Livingstone and Conservative candidate Boris Johnson.

A YouGov poll for the London Evening Standard put Johnson six points ahead on Thursday, although others have said it is too close to call.

Liberal Democrat candidate and former police chief Brian Paddick is expected to come in third.

The Greens put forward Sian Berry, while Lindsey German was standing for the Left List and Gerard Batten for UKIP.

Livingstone has been London mayor since the post was created in 2000 and is seeking his third term at City Hall.

The full list of candidates standing for mayor was:

• Alan Craig - Christian Choice
• Boris Johnson - Conservatives
• Brian Paddick - Liberal Democrats
• Gerard Batten - UKIP
• Ken Livingstone - Labour
• Lindsey German - Left List party
• Matt O'Connor - English Democrats
• Richard Barnbrook - BNP
• Sian Berry - Green Party
• Winston McKenzie - Independent