London Mayor race: candidates back Oxford Street pedestrianisation and lorry ban

London`s Oxford Street has been described as dangerous and polluted

London`s Oxford Street has been described as dangerous and polluted

Labour candidate Sadiq Khan and Lib Dem favourite Caroline Pidgeon in the contest for London Mayor have backed Oxford Street pedestrianisation after TfL said it was a possibility.

Khan said: "We are one heatwave away from pollution levels not seen since the 1950s. That is bad for London and catastrophic for Londoners' health. That's why I will make pedestrianising Oxford Street, and turning it into a tree-lined shoppers' paradise, a major project for TfL. It won't be easy but it will be worthwhile."

He was speaking after Pidgeon said that the case for pedestrianising Oxford Steet "has never been stronger" with "one person knocked down by traffic every five days".

Meanwhile Labour candidate David Lammy proposed a rush-hour HGV ban to reduce cyclist deaths and environmentalist Zac Goldsmith confirmed he would seek the Conservative nomination.