Jeffrey Archer has promised to stop writing novels if Londoners elect him their first citywide mayor.

SIMON ROGERSON joined him on the stump to see how town centre shoppers reacted to the offer

Tory grandee and aspiring Mayor of London Lord Archer (Jeffrey to fans of his pulp thrillers) And his entrourage of party minders descended on Harrow town centre on Tuesday last week.

The novelist and former MP was in town campaigning for a Yes vote in today's referendum and promoting Harrow's Conservatives in the run-up to the borough elections.

"I still see Harrow as fertile ground," he said. "We've been hearing some very encouraging things on the streets."

For once, he refused to be drawn on his own mayoral ambitions and, on being asked about Brent East MP Ken Livingstone's growing campaign, would only mutter "poor old Ken" by way of comment.

Surrounded by a gaggle of would-be Conservative councillors, he posed for photographs under the Katie statue in Station Road before embarking on a stroll up St Ann's Road.

He proffered his hand to a woman striding purposefully down the street: she was a member of a religious sect and more accustomed to stopping people herself. Instinctively shrinking back, she refused to shake his hand and appeared to be struck dumb by the whole episode. Lord Archer moved swiftly on.

Next up was Mrs Betty Bird, who was about to return an unwanted purchase when she found herself face-to-face with the grinning peer. After a few flustered moments they were all smiles -- success at last.

"When I saw them toting those flags I thought they were on some sort of peace march," Mrs Bird said. "Then I saw this man and he introduced himself as Jeffrey Archer: I've read a few of his books and he looks quite different from the photographs on the dustjacket."

Making his way up the road, he paused to chat with fruiterer Adam Conn ("You're up at 4am? Wow!"), who only weeks previously had taken part in a Times Series survey, stating his support for the idea of a Greater London authority.

But would he vote for Jeffrey Archer? "My mind's not made up yet," he said. "I only just met the bloke."

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