A millionaire entrepreneur who arrived in the UK as a penniless refugee has joined the race to become London's first directly-elected mayor.

Ram Gidoomal, 49, officially announces his intention to contest the mayoralty as an independent Christian Democrat candidate on Wednesday.

The businessman came to the UK in 1967 after being deported from Kenya.

Within two years he was running six corner shops before eventually running a multi-national corporation which, at its peak, employed 7,000 people world-wide. It includes tea plantations in India, vineyards in France and fish-processing in Scotland.

Mr Gidoomal sits on the government's Better Regulation Taskforce and is an adviser to the Prince's Business Trust. He was made a CBE in 1998 for services to the Asian business sector.

Head above the parapet

It was the often farcical difficulties that Labour and the Conservatives have had in selecting their mayoral candidates which, said Mr Gidoomal, had convinced him he should throw his own hat into the ring.

"As I watched events unfold and the shenanigans around the mainstream political parties over the mayoralty issue, I felt they had failed London and Londoners, which is a tragedy and a shame," he said. "London is crying out for a candidate independent of the main parties.

"I thought now is the time for me to stand up and put my head above the parapet."

Issues Mr Gidoomal said he intended to campaign were economic regeneration, speaking up for the car-less, the jobless and the homeless.

"It makes business sense to work these people into the community and to make sure they are included and not excluded," he said.

He said there should also be fast-track entry to the UK for refugees with skills in short supply - like doctors and nurses.

On transport, Mr Gidoomal will be campaigning for more bus lanes in the capital and the introduction of a People's Bond for the London Underground.

He also wants to establish a "travel bank" which would enable people to pay for their fares with a swipe card, so avoiding queues.

Mr Gidoomal is currently a board member of the Covent Garden Market Authority, chair of the Advisory Skills Initiative and a member of the government Office for London Ethnic Minority Group.

He is also the author of UK Maharajahs and Sari 'n' Chips.

The mayoral and Greater London Assembly elections will be held on 4 May.