London Mayor Boris Johnson has will scrap the western extension of the London congestion charge from Christmas Eve.

Road markings and cameras will be removed from the border of Hammersmith and Fulham over the Christmas period, when the charge system traditionally shuts down. It will be reinstated again on January 4, but shall apply only to the central London area.

The announcement came just hours after Chancellor George Osborne revealed a series of budget cuts for the UK economy.

Mr Johnson said: "The people of west London had the western extension unfairly foisted upon them and they have now voiced their antipathy for it loud and clear on several occasions.

"After negotiating a testing course of several legal hurdles, I am delighted to be able to confirm that it will now be removed by Christmas.

"It will be vanquished, annihilated and obliterated, with road markings literally blasted from the earth over the festive period."

It is believed that Transport for London will lose £55 million as a result of ditching the western extension, but Tube and bus fares will both rise by ten pence each in January to £1.90 and £1.30 respectively. Other price hikes are also anticipated.

Jack Carfrae - 21 Oct 2010