T-Charge TfL: New London £10 traffic payment comes into effect today to tackle diesel pollution

The new £10 weekday T-Charge comes into force today, affecting thousands of motorists throughout London.

The T-Charge is an emissions surcharge, applied in the same areas as and paid in addition to the congestion charge, for vehicles travelling through central London.

It is expected to affect 10,000 drivers in the capital each year after it emerged 9,000 Londoners a year die prematurely because of long-term toxic air exposure.

Drivers of older, more polluting vehicles will pay an extra £10 in the form of the T-Charge, on top of the existing £11.50 congestion charge.

This bumps the cost of driving through central London up to a total of £21.50. The zone will operate between 7am and 6pm, Monday to Friday.

It has been introduced in a bid to cut London's toxic air pollution levels, which currently exceed the World Health Organisation's limit for PM2.5 particles.

Despite some criticism, a recent survey revealed that three quarters of Londoners support the measure.

The YouGov poll published ahead of the launch showed of 1,053 adults found 74 per cent strongly or tended to support the T-Charge.

The T-Charge is the first of a series of new rates being introduced in London. It is due to be replaced with a stricter Ultra-Low Emission Zone by 2020.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: "London's air is a killer and is linked to asthma, strokes, heart disease and dementia.

"I refuse to be a mayor who ignores this and I am determined to take effective action to reduce the harm it does to Londoners."

Drivers can find out if their vehicle is affected by the T-Charge using TfL's online checker here.