Boris Johnson has been invited for a burger by Islington Council after he criticised its move to scrap the ban on barbecues.

The Mayor of London, who lives in Angel, has promised to investigate complaints that outdoor cooking will destroy green spaces and become a “nuisance” in the wake of the decision to lift the controversial ban in the borough’s 130 public parks.

Councillor Paul Smith, Islington Council’s executive member for environment, said: “I invite all Islington residents, including Boris Johnson, to barbecue responsibly in our parks now the ban has been lifted. I will even cook Boris a burger myself.

“Barbecues really are part of summer and you have to be a bit of a killjoy to oppose them.

“Most people here don’t have a garden to cook in, and now they can use our parks.

“We believe we can trust residents to be responsible and clean up without endless red tape, and will of course keep an eye on the situation.”