LABOUR stalwart Ken Livingstone, in the running to become the next Mayor of London, was in Uxbridge town centre on his campaign trail.

Mr Livingstone greeted shoppers outside the Mall Pavilions, in High Street, on Wednesday before getting on his touring 'Fare Deal' soap box to announce his plans to reduce public transport costs for Londoners if he is voted into office at the City Hall elections, on May 3.

 He is promising to cut tube fares by seven per cent by October, and freeze them in 2013.

Mr Livingstone, who was London Mayor from 2000 to 2008, told the Gazette that such a move would be sustainable in the long run.

"These cuts amount to just three per cent of TfL's budget, and they have a £350million pound surplus budget, so it would not endanger the service.

"People in Outer London boroughs such as Hillingdon who need to schlep into London will benefit most, saving more than those living more centrally who only need to go a few stops.

"It is a simple pledge that will help keep people keep costs down."

He rubbished incumbent Mayor Boris Johnson's proposals for an airport in the Thames Estuary, but said expanding Heathrow would be a disaster, instead suggesting that Stansted get a new runway should the need arise, and Heathrow establish better links with developing countries.

"I have been fighting a Third Ruwnay at Heathrow for years. No one in their right mind puts a huge airport near to homes, but that's what happened with Heathrow, and the last thing we should do is make it bigger.

"Heathrow should primarily be used for business travel and new direct routes to India, China and Brazil be established, with short-haul flights moving to Gatwick and Stansted.

"Building a whole new airport in the Thames would cost billions of pounds, and destroy West London's economy."

He also said he intended to reverse cuts to police numbers which have lead to rising crime levels, and address the capital's housing crisis by building more homes for rent.