Local Labour MP Meg Hillier joined Labour councillors in a protest against more betting shops coming into our borough.

Residents are fighting to stop a betting shop opening up at the Old Town Hall on Mare street and at another site in Chatsworth Road.

Meg said: "I am pleased to be here supporting the wishes of residents who want to see better High Streets in Hackney.

"I want to see High Streets that people in our borough want to use with a range or shops and services on offer."

Meg joined Haggerston Councillor Jonathan McShane, Hackney Central Councillor Alan Laing, Brownswood councillor Darren Parker and Queensbridge Councillor Tom Price at a stall outside the Old Town Hall building on Mare Street.

Cllr Laing said: "Residents in Hackney Central should know that their local councillors are firmly on their side.

"We know you don't want to see yet another betting shop in our borough.

"We are working hard to make Mare Street a better place to shop."

Labour is fighting the rise of betting shops across the borough.

Hackney has 95 betting shops already - the natinal average for an area this size is 20.

Labour Mayor Jules Pipe has given his strong support to residents campaigning on this issue.

Mayor Pipe said: "Local people are sick os seeing betting shops spring up on every street corner and are beginning to sight back.

"Betting shops can have a negative impact on the character of an area, but at the moment councils have no powers to say no."

The Mayor has slammed plans to turn the 19th century Old Town Hall building on Mare Street, formerly the old HSBC, into a betting shop.

He said: "Planning law means that the Old Town Hall can be changed from a bank to a bookmaker's without having to ask fro planning permission.

"There is nothing the Council can do about it."

Mayor Pipe has written to the Government asking it to look again at planning law to make it easier for councils to control the spread of betting shops.