London Mayor Ken Livingstone has given his full backing to the proposed East London Line, telling stakeholders from South and East London that he believes the planned extension is an essential addition to rail links in their area, which must be built as soon as possible.

The Mayor invited local representatives from areas along the route of the proposed East London line - including MPs and council representatives from Hackney, Islington, Lewisham, Battersea, Southwark, Merton and Croydon - to a meeting at his office in order to confirm his full support for the project.

The Mayor said: "South and East Londoners have always been the poor relations in terms of transport and understandably they want the East London Line Extension to go ahead as soon as possible. I share their concerns and fully support them.

"I am totally opposed to English Heritage's proposal to preserve the whole of Bishopsgate Goodsyard, which would cause major delay to the scheme. The scheme can go ahead without demolishing to the listed Braithwaite Arches and I support this course of action.

The East London Line Extension will bring new opportunities to deprived areas across South and East London and boost London's economy. It must go ahead as rapidly as possible. I have made it clear to the Government that as far as London is concerned this scheme should get the go ahead and the funding it needs as soon as possible."

The government is set to decide on the scheme within the next three months.