LONDON Mayor Boris Johnson has denied he is only interested in the leafier parts of London.

During a visit to Chingford he claimed he is “determined” to make sure areas such as Walthamstow and Leytonstone are not ignored.

He said: “We’re making sure we have safer public transport - that’s why we’ve massively expanded the number of uniformed police officers on buses.”

The Mayor also confirmed that “pay as you go” travel may not be available until November on train services between Chingford and Liverpool Street in spite of publicising it during his visit.

“I want to promote pushing out Oyster cards throughout the Underground and the Overground - that’s the message we want to get across to the people of Chingford,” Mayor Johnson said.

He added that the issue of knife crime in Walthamstow was to be addressed and pledged to make the streets safer - but did not specify how this would be done.

“We have a big programme for dealing with the knife crime issue,” the Mayor said.

“Most of the big issues are in deprived areas of London.”

He also stated that there were plans to “jump start” the property market and “tackle all the problems that face inner city London” but did not address the issues faced by outer London boroughs.

There are also plans to pour £30million into sporting facilities and increasing participation in east London over the next two to three years but it was not clear how much Waltham Forest would benefit from this.

Mayor Johnson said: “We’re supporting not just sporting facilities but more coaching and training so that we have a proper Olympic legacy.”

The Mayor visited Chingford last Thursday to show support to Edwin Northover, Tory candidate in the upcoming Larkswood by-election, claiming Mr Northover was set to “romp to victory on a joyous tide of public acclamation”.

The Mayor of London also paid an impromptu visit to Normanhurst School in North Chingford, where pupils and staff were delighted to meet him.