Former Lambeth borough police commander Brian Paddick has been picked to run for the Lib Dems in next year's mayoral elections.

Mr Paddick, 49, who before he retired as deputy assistant commissioner in April had been the Met's highest ranking openly gay copper, beat off challenges from Chamali Fernando and Fiyaz Mughal to take the Lib Dem nomination.

He said his main aims were less crime, better transport, cleaner air and fewer Londoners living in poverty.

He stands in next year's contest against Labour's sitting mayor Ken Livingstone and the Conservatives' Boris Johnson.

Balham-born Mr Paddick, pioneered the "softly-softly" approach to cannabis in Brixton after taking on the Lambeth job in 2000.

The former Sutton Manor High School student retired after 30 years in the force following a clash with Commissioner Sir Ian Blair over the handling of the Jean Charles de Menezes shooting in July 2005.

The report on the aftermath of the Menezes incident, published by the Independent Police Complaints Commission, confirmed Mr Paddick's account that officers close to the commissioner knew within hours of rumours that police had shot the wrong man.

Mr Paddick is to take on Labour incumbent Ken Livingstone and Conservative challenger Boris Johnson in the poll next year.