Members of the Rotary Club of Barkingside gave Ilford South MP Mike Gapes a grilling on political life on Wednesday.

Mr Gapes was the speaker at the club’s meeting in Fiskardo’s restaurant, Fairlop Waters, Forest Road.

He said: “I told them what it’s been like for the last 20 years in Parliament and they asked me questions on all sorts of things.

“We talked about the economy and the EU as well as local issues.”

Rotarians from across London were also busy the day before when they took part in the annual New Year’s Day Parade.

District governor for Rotary in London and Redbridge Rotarian Eve Conway-Ghazi said meeting “the Queen” was one of the day’s highlights.