MP Sadiq Khan will be serving up food at Balham's Bertie and Boo coffee shop this morning.

The Shadow Justice Minister will be working a shift at one of his favourite cafes as part of his support for local businesses on the first-ever Small Business Saturday in the UK.

Mr Khan said said: "Being born and brought up in Tooting, I know how much our community values the small and independent businesses we have here – hardworking family-run newsagents, fantastic local cafes and some of the best independent restaurants in South London!

"Small businesses are the lifeblood of Tooting, and that’s why I want to celebrate the contribution they make to our community and why I am so pleased to support the UK’s inaugural Small Business Saturday.

"I’ve had a number of jobs working in local businesses in Tooting over the years, starting with my first job working as a paperboy for Mr and Mrs Patel in their newsagents on Glenburnie Road.

"I’m looking forward to my shift in Bertie and Boo this Saturday, if you’re in the area, please drop by to say hello."

Small Business Saturday is a grassroots initiative which began in the US in 2010, to encourage people to shop locally and support small businesses in the community.

This year, the event is being held in the UK on December 7, in the run up to Christmas and the busiest day of year.

Small businesses invest a significant amount of profits into their local area, supporting local communities and economies to flourish.

They account for 99.9 per cent of all private sector business in the UK and in total, small businesses employ 46.2 per cent of the UK's workforce, helping to support families throughout Britain.

Danny Shepheard, manager at Bertie and Boo coffee shop, said: "This is a fantastic way of promoting local small businesses and we are very much looking forward to welcoming the local MP, to the team here at Bertie and Boo this Saturday.

"No doubt our customers will get a surprise when come in for their morning coffee and they see our MP stood behind the till."