Former Sports Minister Tony Banks is among seven Labour candidates hoping to challenge Ken Livingstone for the London mayoralty.

The West Ham MP is seen as the front-runner of those who on Friday put themselves forward to challenge Ken Livingstone for the job in the 2004 elections.

Two other leading candidates are the Deputy Mayor of London Nicky Gavron, and trade union official and former councillor Bob Shannon.

Nicky Gavron is a close ally of the current mayor

The remaining candidates are lesser known figures who are not expected to make the shortlist, which will be drawn up next Thursday.

The final choice will be made by London party members and trade unions.

Mr Banks was chairman of the Greater London Council in 1986 when Mr Livingstone was leader of the authority.

But Mr Livingstone has already publicly urged Labour members to choose Ms Gavron, a close ally on the Greater London Assembly.

Transport pledges

Mr Banks told the Evening Standard newspaper he wants to improve safety in the capital, transport and the environment.

Ms Gavron says she wants to "deliver solutions" to London's problems and get the investment the capital needs.

She also says she would urge London voters to use the second of their two votes to back the current mayor.

Mr Shannon says he wants to improve the "whole infrastructure" of the capital, and would scrap Mr Livingstone's proposed congestion charge.

Labour defeat

The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have yet to select their candidates, although Steve Norris and Susan Kramer are expected to want to run again for the job they failed to win two years ago.

In the first London mayoral elections in 2000, Mr Livingstone failed to become the Labour candidate despite winning the support of most London party members.

He subsequently left the party to run as an independent. The official party candidate, Frank Dobson, managed only third place after Mr Norris.

Earlier this year, Labour rejected Mr Livingstone's attempt to rejoin the party.