A PENSIONER has received a London congestion penalty charge - even though he has not visited the city in over 30 years.

Derek Myers, 75, of Haxby, York, was puzzled when he opened the letter telling him he had to pay £40.

"At first I thought it was a joke," he said.

"But then I got annoyed."

Mr Myers was told that his Volvo 940 estate was seen close to Liverpool Street Station at 5.38pm on July 17, and that he had failed to pay the regulation charge.

"There were five boxes on the letter about how to pay but not one about disagreeing with the fine," Mr Myers said.

The letter said that if the fine was not paid, the charge would rise to £80 by Wednesday, and to £120 by August 20.

Mr Myers contacted the relevant department and was told informed that he should put his grievance in writing.

A spokesman for Transport for London said that a camera could have misread the car's registration plate.

York Police suggested that a cloned registration could have been used - a false plate used to avoid detection by congestion or speed cameras.

Mr Myers said: "This could happen time and time again.

"When you are getting on in life, there's no reason you should have to put up with this."