If you want to get a message to Boris Johnson, watch out for his staff.

The Ham&High covered the Mayor of London’s visit to Maria Fidelis secondary last week and discovered just how protective his assistants can be.

I am told as reporter Tim Lamden handed the mayor a leaflet from protesters opposing plans to close Belsize fire station he accepted it gratefully, even thanking the reporter.

But a female assistant soon swooped in and snatched it from the mayor’s hand as he chatted with Labour councillor Tulip Siddiq.

Moments before the leaflet incident, Mr Johnson had said a 200-strong march to oppose the closure of Belsize fire station was “obviously going to be taken into consideration” as part of the consultation process.

He added: “This is a real consultation and if there’s better things we can do - if there’s a way of switching it around - then we’ll look at it.”