An underground newspaper based in the borough launched this month.

The Tooting Free Press is the brainchild of Michael Curran, 43, and Charlotte Young, 30, and features creative writing, political comment and a comic strip.

A launch party was held in Tooting Progressive Club, in Mitcham Road, last week.

The first issue includes political comment from Alan Dent, memories of Tooting from Mr Curran's mother known as Granny Jo and a humorous horoscope.

Editor Mr Curran, a carpenter, of Cowick Road, Tooting said the paper is akin to the LA Free Press, offering readers a tongue-in-cheek sense of humour.

He said: "It is a genuinely independent free paper. It is a different point of view, without being like the Morning Star.

"I was so fed-up with the Evening Standard, the same thing every week.

"There is creative writing in it and political comment about the banks."

The publication, which has a cover price of 60p, is free where distributed, or can be ordered online with a £2 postage fee.

Readers can get their hands of this issue in a number of bookshops across the UK, and it can even be found in the famous independent Parisian bookshop Shakespeare and Company.

But if they like it they will have a long wait because the next issue is not due out until December, following a fundraising event planned to take place in The Half Moon, in Lower Richmond Road, Putney.

Visit tootingfreepress.com