Boris: I'll also scrap the extended C-charge zone

Boris Johnson has pledged to scrap the western extension of the congestion charge if he is elected Mayor.

The Tory candidate also promised to give drivers much longer to pay the charge to avoid incurring huge fines, which would themselves be slashed from £120 to £40.

Ken Livingstone doubled the zone last February by taking it into Knightsbridge, Kensington and Notting Hill, despite mass opposition from businesses and residents.

Now Mr Johnson has become the second rival to Mr Livingstone to vow to scrap the extension. Lib-Dem candidate-Brian Paddick yesterday said he would return to the original zone while hiking the levy from £8 to £20.

Speaking last night on BBC London, Mr Johnson said: "I don't think the westerly extension is working very well, it's delivering huge numbers of cars into the central charge zone. Probably we should get rid of it."

He said the extension, which allows residents living within the charging area to drive into the original zone for 80p, contributed to a 15 per cent rise in central London congestion.