C-charge protesters take coffin to City Hall

Protesters are delivering a coffin to City Hall today to signify the "death" of small businesses caused by the congestion charge.

Campaigners opposing the zone's extension into west London are also presenting a 10,000-signature petition.

Ken Livingstone and his transport commissioner Bob Kiley are set to be grilled by the London Assembly over the charge - which will rise to £8 in July - and the proposed extension by 2007.

The Mayor claims that only 5,000 people a day have stopped driving into central London as a result of the charge. But businesses say the true figure is much higher and an increase in the levy will cause them more problems.

Angie Bray, Conservative congestion charge spokeswoman on the Assembly, accused the Mayor of behaving like a "tin-pot dictator" by ignoring opposition. She said 75 per cent of residents and 89 per cent of firms are opposed. "He is making a mockery of democracy."

Mr Livingstone will also face questions from the Liberal Democrats over the £1.6 million legal bill he ran up in a failed attempt to halt the partprivatisation of the Tube.