Can the London mayor solve cost-of-living issues?

A lunch club run by Age UK Redbridge, Barking and Havering

The rise in the cost of living has left many Londoners feel squeezed with housing, arguably the biggest issue affecting all age groups.

But what other concerns do people have?

I went to two community groups in east London - one in Romford and the other in Wanstead - and found out that there were changes voters wanted to see, from reinstating free travel for the over 60s to more local activities for children.

Latifa Siziba runs Excel Kids

In Romford, Latifa Siziba runs Excel Kids, a nursery and soft-play centre. She says parents often speak to her about rising prices, particularly for housing.

"It’s quite a daunting time for them," she says.

She says rising rents in the area mean parents are having to cut back on food when out shopping because they’re so squeezed.

Katherine Layton, 44, who is at the soft play with her daughter and grandson, tells me she would like a mayor to prioritise more local activities for children but that housing is the major issue locally.

"We know someone that’s been on the housing list for 11 years, they’ve had to go private but now - it’s got really tough."

Anthony Davis, 72, agrees that the next mayor needs to build more social and affordable homes for people.

"The next generation are going to have something tougher than what we’ve got," he says.

Running for a third term, Labour's Sadiq Khan says he plans to build 40,000 new council homes by the end of the decade.

He says he has already invested over £40m to reduce household bills through the Warmer Homes programme and introduced the Hopper fare to make the bus network more affordable for millions of journeys.

Anthony Davis has concerns about a lack of housing in the area

The Conservative candidate, Susan Hall, says she would build more family homes people can afford, to help get rents down and make home ownership more accessible.

And the Liberal Democrat candidate says his key policy to tackle the cost of living is building more housing, more quickly and efficiently.

But while many young families are currently struggling to rent or buy a home, older people are struggling financially too, according to a local charity.

The subsidised roast dinner helps people save money

Sue Grant from Age UK Redbridge, Barking and Havering said: "It’s very difficult. People are having to cut back."

She says people are struggling to pay their bills and the cost of care is unaffordable for some.

"Paying for care is a real issue. The cost of care is so high that a lot of people just say 'I’ll just do without, I’ll just struggle through' and it shouldn’t be like that when you’ve worked all your life and you’ve given to your country and when you actually need the support, people are not getting it. That’s not right at all."

In Wanstead, the local arm of the charity offers a two-course lunch for £7 from Monday to Thursday. The popular roast dinner on a Friday costs £7.50.

As about 30 people sit at tables in small groups, they discuss various local issues.

Sue Grant has surveyed older people about the cost of living

Crime is a problem, they say, as is the loss of High Street banks. Some people are also very unhappy about the removal of a key bus route.

Many feel it’s unfair that over-60s can’t travel for free before 09:00 since that right was cancelled by Transport for London (TfL) .

"Even if it was only 08:00 that would help, because people that have got an appointment at 09:00, they can’t get there," said Rita, a guest at the lunch.

Another lady tells me that if she has to pay for the bus before 09:00 she has to find the money out of her food budget, which is already tight.

Rita says bus routes and the Freedom Pass are big issues among her peers

The Green Party candidate, Zoë Garbett, says she would reinstate free morning travel for older people and extend free bus travel to under-22s.

While a London mayor does have power to set transport fares and build homes many of the things that people are struggling with in the capital are outside their control, like interest rates, energy costs and, of course, inflation.

Jill Farr, 77, tells me that the rise in the state pension payments won’t make a difference because her bills are now so high.

Jillian Farr says rising pensions don't cover the cost of living

"Everything has gone up. So whatever they’ve given us, we won’t see. It’s a big crush on older people."

While the cost of living will be at the forefront of many minds at the ballot box, most people I spoke to appear to think there is only so much a London mayor can do to help.

The mayoral election will take place on 2 May.