A CAMPAIGN to get five million black and ethnic minority people to register to vote came to Waltham Forest.

Activists from non-partisan organisation Operation Black Vote (OBV) joined Walthamstow MP Neil Gerrard, Leyton MP Harry Cohen, Greater London Assembly member Jennette Arnold, council leader Clyde Loakes and ward councillors David Blunt and Simon Wright in the Walthamstow town square to sign up eligible voters.

Only one third of Londoners of African origin are on the electoral register but now 80 more people in Waltham Forest will be able to make their voices heard at the council elections on May 4.

Signing up to the register was student nurse Agnes Mensah, 37, who has been living in Chingford for 13 years but has never voted in a council election.

Mrs Mensah, of Chingford Way, said: "I've never found the time to vote before but I will this time. I want black people to go and speak on my behalf.

"Also I've got three boys and I need a better education for them."

Chairman of OBV Simon Woolley said that the event had been a great success and he hoped that the target of 500 new voters in Waltham Forest would be achieved by the registration deadline of Monday.

Mr Woolley added that he was impressed by how many people he spoke to in Walthamstow who were already registered but thought persuading people to use their vote was just as important.

"We've made a good start and I hope that community groups will sign up far more before the deadline for registrations on March 13," he said.

"There's a great lack of representation among African and Carribbean communities. People need people from their communities to speak on their behalf."

Local activist Miranda Grell, who organised the sign-up, said that she was pleased with how many people had put their names down and thanked everyone who helped on the day.

For more information on OVB, see www.obv.org.uk.