Mayor of London Boris Johnson wet his whistle at a pub saved by its punters.

Mr Johnson dropped in for a pint at The Hope in Carshalton - seen as a successful venture in the spirit of the Coalition’s Big Society - as part of a visit to Sutton.

The pub was saved from closure in February 2010 after it was under threat of being turned into an Indian restaurant.

A group of about 30 regulars and their friends at the pub took it over from owner Punch Brewery on a 20 year lease.

It had been a problem venue and magnet for antisocial behaviour in the area.

It is now turning a profit as one of the premiere venues for real ale in south west London.

Mr Johnson said: “I’m here to congratulate everyone involved in an exciting and original community venture.

“They have resuscitated a business and turned it into a very popular community pub.

“It is by no means a communist operation, it is here to make a profit.”

Mr Johnson shared an ale with its owners and chatted and posed for pictures with punters.

He then moved onto a BBC Question Time style event at the Secombe Theatre in Cheam Road.

He sat on a panel with deputy mayor for policing Kit Malthouse, Sutton Council deputy leader Ruth Dombey and Toni Walsh, from Sutton Centre for the Voluntary Sector.

They answered a wide range of questions on community safety, transport and the recent riots in London from an audience of several under people.

Mr Johnson came under fire about the future of the voluntary sector in the borough and the announcement of above inflation rises in public transport costs.

He also tried to distance Transport for London (TfL) from the Sutton High Street debacle, with coun Dombey facing questions about the bungled £3m redevelopment.

The debate was chaired by Croydon and Sutton London assembly member Steve O’Connell.