Residents worried about being hit with a £12.50 charge to visit Kew's Townmead Road dump are being advised to use an alternative in Hounslow, by the London mayor.

The charge will come into effect on Monday under the decision to extend the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) out to the south and north circular.

The move is designed to remove older, polluting vehicles from the centre of London to improve the health of residents.

The Twickenham MP, Munira Wilson, wrote to the mayor, Sadiq Khan, asking him to allow an exemption to the charge for residents visiting Townmead recycling centre and the nearby Mortlake Crematorium and cemetery.

Councillors and local residents have also raised concerns that visiting some essential services, such as the GP, could also now be caught by the charge.

However, the mayor has written back to reject exemptions and insist it is important that the ULEZ has a clearly identified boundary.

The mayor points out that the vast majority of vehicles - 80per cent - will be exempt from the charge because their exhaust emissions are below the permitted level.

Mr Khan argues that residents with older vehicles that do not comply should use an alternative dump in Hounslow if they want to avoid the ULEZ charge.

Ms Wilson said she is concerned that anything which makes it more difficult or expensive to visit Townmead creates a risk of increasing fly-tipping. She described the mayor's response as 'disappointing'.

In his letter, the mayor wrote: "The aim of ULEZ is to reduce harmful emissions from road transport. This is important because poor air quality stunts the growth of children's lungs and worsens chronic illness such as asthma and heart disease.

"A study from Imperial College London found that in 2019 toxic air contributed to the premature deaths of more than 4,000 Londoners."

On getting rid of household waste, he said: "Richmond residents who have vehicles that do not meet the standards and do not want to pay the ULEZ charge, or do not want to use a waste collection service, can use the Space Waye reuse and recycling centre in Hounslow."

Find out about the ULEZ expansion, the vehicles covered and how to pay here.