Richard Ottaway, Conservative MP for Croydon South, is backing a parliamentary motion calling for RSPCA's exemption from London's congestion charge scheme. The scheme aims to charge motorists for driving into the capital's centre and would cost the RSPCA £5,000 annually.

In 12 months the RSPCA dealt with 887 incidents in the congestion charge area.

Richard Ottaway said: "This is yet another example of how the Mayor's ill-thought out plans to introduce congestion charging will seriously impact upon the work of an organisation whose good work many of us take for granted."

A RSPCA spokesman said: "This amount of money would feed all the animals in one of our animal centres for six months."