No taxi for Ken on his 2-hour trek

Mayor Ken Livingstone opted to walk to work today rather than add another fare to his huge annual taxi bill.

However, his walk to the office is no mere stroll - it is nearly nine miles from his home in Cricklewood to his City Hall HQ near Tower Bridge.

Emerging from his house just before 7am, clad in a suit and Puma trainers, Mr Livingstone expected the walk would take nearly two hours. He then attempted to cut short his journey by jumping on a passing No 89 bound for Oxford Circus.

He then announced he would leap off within a mile or two and continue his walk "to make room for real Londoners."