The county council leader has written to London mayor Sadiq Khan urging him to reverse his ultra-low emission zone (ULEZ) expansion.

Conservative Roger Gough urged Mr Khan to scrap any expansion which would affect Kent residents.

In a letter to the mayor, Cllr Gough said proposals to expand the zone to the border of the county would have “significant consequences” and the authority would threaten legal action if plans aren’t “shelved”.

He wrote: “I write to set out my considerable disappointment at your continuing refusal to materially and properly consider all the implications of your proposed ULEZ expansion to the border here in Kent.

“You have ignored the previous correspondence, consultation responses and representations made in meetings that have all highlighted the significant impact on residents, particularly those with protected characteristics and those most affected by the current cost of living crisis.”

He continued: “The failure to take properly into account and ensure mitigation will have significant consequences for a number of Kent residents.

“They include people utilising, visiting or working within the health and education sectors, those on low paid jobs and those for whom your scheme falls in the very short distance to visit elderly relatives, parents or children.

“It is particularly disappointing to note the impact of the delivery plan on residents with protected characteristics and the failure to properly plan and mitigate for this.

“All this will also come at the time of the biggest squeeze on living standards in decades.

“I formally call on you to reverse your decision.”

Mr Khan has said the expansion is vital in his bid to tackle pollution in the capital.

From August 29, the scheme is set to be expanded to cover the whole of London and drivers of non-compliant vehicles must pay a daily charge of £12.50 to drive within the zone.

A new border would cover several areas of Kent and Surrey and sparked concern among councils.

Earlier this month, Labour officials claimed the expansion would end up with the party losing supporters in the county.

A spokesman for the mayor said the decision to expand ULEZ was “not an easy one, but necessary to tackle toxic air pollution”.