Boris Johnson has become the new Mayor of London.

After a tense evening of vote counting, the final results were unveiled just before midnight on Friday.

The Conservative candidate won with 1,168,738 first and second preference votes, compared with Ken Livingstone's 1,028,966 on a record turnout of 45%.

Liberal Democrat Brian Paddick came third and the Greens' Sian Berry came fourth.

After signing his official declaration of office at City Hall, he urged people to help build upon the "very considerable achievements of the last mayor of London".

Boris described Mr Livingstone as "a very considerable public servant".

"You shaped the office of mayor. You gave it national prominence and when London was attacked on 7 July 2005 you spoke for London," he said.

He gracious praised his rival highlighting his "courage and the sheer exuberant nerve with which you stuck it to your enemies, especially in New Labour."

Boris also hinted at the idea of giving Livingstone a job in his new administration, adding that he hoped to "discover a way in which the mayoralty can continue to benefit from your transparent love of London."

Of those who voted against him, Boris said: "I will work flat out to repay and to justify your confidence. We have a new team ready to go into City Hall."

"Where there have been mistakes we will rectify them, where there are achievements we will build on them, where there are neglected opportunities we will seize on them."

Accepting defeat outside City Hall, Livingstone thanked the Labour Party for all its help with his campaign, but accepted the responsibility for not winning the election was his.

"There is absolutely nothing that I could have asked from the Labour Party that it didn't throw into this election, from Gordon Brown right the way down to the newest recruit, handing out leaflets on very wet, cold days," he said.

"I'm sorry I couldn't get an extra few points that would take us to victory and the fault for that is solely my own."

"You can't be mayor for eight years and then if you don't get a third term say it was somebody else's fault. I accept that responsibility and I regret that I couldn't take you to victory."

Liberal Democrat candidate Brian Paddick paid tribute to Ken Livingstone as "an amazing mayor" and indicated that he would not be interested in working with Mr Johnson, but hoped to help the Liberal Democrats in some other capacity.

Of the new Mayor he said: "I think Boris Johnson didn't really want the job. Now that he has got it, that might make him a better mayor."

The Voting Results In Full
Boris Johnson (Tory) - 1,043,761
Ken Livingstone (Lab) - 893,877
Brian Paddick (Lib Dem) - 236,685
Sian Berry (Green) -  77,374
Richard Barnbrook (BNP) - 69,710
Alan Craig (Christian Choice) - 39,249
Gerard Batten (UKIP) - 22,422
Lindsey German (Left List) - 16,796
Matt O'Connor (Eng Democrats) - 10,695
Winston McKenzie (Ind) - 5,389