A FIRSDOWN mechanic has described himself as the owner of the "fastest Ford Escort in the west", after receiving his ninth mistaken congestion charge from Transport for London.

Roger Johnson (53), who works on a farm in Dorset, received his latest penalty notice last Wednesday, incorrectly clocking him going over Southwark Bridge in London, just before 8am on Friday, March 14.

Mr Johnson said: "I typically leave home about 7.30am and get to the farm by 8.10am - my wife and colleagues can vouch for that.

"So if that was my van in London, I would have to get from Dorset to the centre of London in no time at all.

"It takes nearly two hours just to get to the outskirts of London from Dorset, and that's if the traffic's good.

"They must think I have the fastest Ford Escort in the west."

Mr Johnson, who said his L-registration diesel van had a top speed of 75mph, is now liable to pay a penalty charge of £40, increasing to £120 if he fails to pay by the beginning of April.

"I am going to the police to see if they can help," said Mr Johnson.

"They dealt with the first four incorrect notices I received because I was able to prove to them that I was somewhere else at the time.

"I thought that would be the last of them, but now I've received another five charges - it's ridiculous."

Mr Johnson believes the most likely explanation for the fines is that someone has cloned his vehicle registration number.