SHADOW health minister Dr Andrew Murrison is calling for action after a Trowbridge pensioner received five congestion charge fines despite never driving to London.

The west Wilts MP said ministers must move to crack down on criminal activities in the capital, especially in relation to forged and cloned number plates.

Maurice Stribling, 73, of Furlong Gardens, has threatened legal action to stem the flow of false tickets, accusing him of driving through London's congestion zone on five separate occasions without paying.

Dr Murrison has written to Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir John Stevens about the problem, but believes government ministers have a duty to address the overall issue.

He said: "I am trying to bring this problem to the attention of ministers. There is a common thread and they need to look at it from the point of view of trying to remove the nuisance to my constituent, but also address the problem of criminality.

"It beggars belief. We have IT and all sorts of sophisticated things, which should be used to pick this kind of problem up."

Transport for London admits there is only a "fair to medium" chance of those using cloned number plates getting caught.

The congestion charge scheme, introduced has caused controversy from the outset, attracting criticism from pop icon Madonna, who was furious she would not receive a discount unless she gave up her right to privacy.