Attempts to spread congestion charging into Enfield will be strongly opposed by its elected representatives.

Cllr Mike Rye, leader of the council, has pledged to resist any future efforts by Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, and Transport for London (TfL) to introduce road tolls in the borough.

He was speaking following the rolling out of the scheme in Westminster, and Kensington and Chelsea.

Cllr Rye said: "I am concerned that this is the thin end of the wedge and part of a wider campaign to install congestion charging all over London.

"It may have worked well in the city, but many residents in Westminster, and Kensington and Chelsea are against it."

Figures at the authority fear that Enfield's poorest residents will be hit hardest by an £8 levy for the honour of using borough roads.

There are also concerns that neighbouring areas would see big increases in volume of traffic as drivers sought to avoid the tax.

Under the 1999 Greater London Authority act, a congestion charge zone can be set up even if it is un-wanted by the council, so any opposition would be largely toothless.

This was the case in Kensington and Chelsea, where the council did not support its implementation.

A spokesman for the royal borough said: "TfL has admitted that traffic will get worse and that the costs of the extension will swallow most of the extra income. We do not know why it is going ahead."

Cllr Rye acknowledged that resistance appeared futile.

He said: "Although the mayor says that he will consult on these plans he doesn't seem to have listened to the views of the community in west London, so why would he listen to dissenting voices here?"

A spokesman for TfL sought to quell fears.

He said: "There are no current plans to introduce congestion charging in Enfield."