A long-term resident and campaigner against local cuts vows to "preserve the character" of her neighbourhood if elected as MP in the upcoming general election. 

Anne Crook, 60, of Monkhams Avenue, will stand against Iain Duncan Smith as parliamentary candidate in Chingford and Woodford Green for the Liberal Democrat party. 

She claims her party has helped "moderate" the severity of cuts imposed by the coalition government and if re-elected with a single party majority, the Lib Dems would cut less than the Tories. 

However, she admits the debacle over tuition fees continued to be a "serious problem" for the party and the future of higher education.

The primary school teacher was instrumental in saving Woodford Green Library in Snakes Lane East from being sold off and moved to Sir James Hawkey Hall in Broomhill Road.  

A petition started by Ms Crook in response to Redbridge council's "cost-cutting exercise", gathered over 1,000 signatures from residents and library users who feared the move would isolate vulnerable people and pave the way for its permanent closure. 

The controversial proposal was finally axed in August after the council spent months delaying the decision until after the local election. 

She said: "Iain has a huge majority and the odds are against me, but unlike most of the candidates, I actually live, work and shop in the area I'm representing. 

"My priority is representing the views of residents, to preserve the character of Chingford and Woodford Green and to ensure new homes are built sympathetically. 

"The area is facing a danger of overcrowding, with developers building unsuitable housing accommodation without sufficient public services in place. 

"Austerity has gone far enough. Council's budgets are being squeezed and they're finding it difficult to provide essential services." 

 She refejcts any notion of the Lid Dems being wiped out in May's election, claiming it will be a tight race between all three main political parties.