Londoners have been heading to the polls since 7am today in what is being described as the nastiest Mayoral elections yet.

People in Wanstead and Woodford are voting for their next London Mayor and Assembly Member for Havering and Redbridge, while Roding residents in South Woodford also have the choice of who should be there new representative in a council by-election.

Over 700 people had voted at Wanstead Methodist Church Hall and Trinity Church Hall in Hermon Hill by 9am, with hundreds more turning up after the morning rush.

Jenny Hobbs from South Woodford said she voted UKIP for the first time after years of supporting the Conservatives.

She said: “I have lived here since 1983 and in the last five years we have been absolutely inundated with people moving here from abroad.

“I’m voting UKIP because I think they can sort out our immigration problem.”

Jonathan Coles, who is tallying votes in South Woodford, travelled from Havering to campaign with the Roding Liberal Democrat team.

He said: “With such a strong Lib Dem following in this area we need to get as many votes as possible to put pressure on the Labour council.

“This council doesn’t seem to consult residents on the issues that affect them and problems like traffic and pollution at Charlie Brown’s Roundabout and the state of our NHS in the borough need addressing.”

Michael Duffell of the Wanstead and Snaresbrook Conservatives said he is particularly worried about overdevelopment in the area.

He said: “If this council does build on the Wanstead and Woodford corridor as has been suggested in the past, I really don’t think the area will cope.

“South Woodford tube is already as busy as Clapham in the mornings – I just don’t think the transport infrastructure is strong enough.”

Over in Wanstead mother-of-two Amy Urpi voted for the Green Party, despite her scepticism candidate Sian Berry will win the Mayor elections.

She said: “Our family moved here from west London and since then we’ve noticed a lot of differences.

“There doesn’t seem to be as much investment in keeping things clean and I’m worried my three-year-old won’t get a primary school place because we don’t live near any of the state schools and don’t go to church so can’t get into the religious ones.

“I’d like to see those issues addressed.”

Cousins Ann and Christine Murphy from Wanstead voted Labour in the Mayor and GLA elections.

Ann said: “The Mayoral elections are very important.

“We didn’t want our police station closed down but they did that so we need to stop more cuts like that happening.

“The rents are also too high so more and more shops are closing down, which something needs to be done about.”

Polling stations across Wanstead, Snaresbrook, South Woodford and Woodford Green are open until 10pm tonight.