Mayor of London hopeful and former Mid Wales MP Lembit Opik has said he is the only Liberal Democrat that has the public profile to compete with incumbent Boris Johnson and Labour’s Ken Livingstone for the job.

Best known for his colourful life outside of Parliament and a string of showbiz girlfriends including the ITV weather presenter Sian Lloyd, Cheeky Girl Gabriela Irimia and lingerie model Katie Green, Mr Opik, 46, revealed his intentions to run for London mayor to the Shropshire Star last June.

Since then, he has been trying to keep his diary free so that he can throw all his energies into campaigning for the Lib Dem candidacy.

This has caused him some financial strife with no full-time job since he lost his Montgomeryshire seat to Tory Glyn Davies last year.

The deadline for other Lib Dem hopefuls to enter the race closes today.

London Assembly member Mike Tuffrey and former police chief Brian Paddick have also thrown their hats into the ring.

Asked what qualities he believed the Lib Dem candidate should have yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg joked: “Glasses and an Estonian/Welsh background.”

Mr Opik later said he had been assured the leadership was neutral following reports of a plot to line up an alternative candidate.

He said: “It is obvious to me that you have to have a high public profile to compete with Ken and Boris.”