大象传媒

Tony Blair made the announcement in a speech to party activists in his Sedgefield constituency, after earlier briefing the Cabinet on his plans.

He acknowledged his government had not always lived up to high expectations but said he had been very lucky to lead "the greatest nation on earth".

He will stay on in Downing Street until the Labour Party elects a new leader - widely expected to be Gordon Brown.

But to thousands of Londoners especially those that will live with his legacy, what will their last impression of him be?

School children from Glenarm college in Redbridge and St Edward's C of E Comprehensive in Havering spoke openly about their memories of Tony Blair.

Click up on the right to watch the interviews