Lloyd Duddridge, Labour’s by-election candidate for Roding, said he wants to help the ward solve “a cocktail of local and national issues”.

The 28-year-old, who has lived in South Woodford all his life, was elected at a party meeting last night with more than 66 per cent of the vote.

Mr Duddridge told the Recorder: “There are many problems facing Roding. We need to protect our central services, there is a school places crisis and we need more police on our streets.”

He also said he would campaign to save King George Hospital, get more funding for the Orchard Estate and clean up the South Woodford Tube station underpass.

He is running against Conservative former councillor Ruth Clark and Richard Clare for the Liberal Democrats, to replace the Tory councillor Sarah Blaber on May 5.

Mr Duddridge, who worked for Ilford North MP Wes Streeting’s successful general election campaign a year ago, firmly believes he can upset the odds in the borough’s Tory heartland.

“No one thought Wes could win, we were 81st on the target list yet we defied the national polls.

“No one thought we were going to take control of the council and no one thinks Labour can win a seat in Woodford, but I think I have got a good chance.”