A breakdown recovery truck driver is spearheading a campaign to protect the “fourth emergency service” from changes to the low emission zone (LEZ).

Phil Elliott, who runs PPE Recovery in Elmwood Close, Wallington, has warned Transport for London (TfL) risked the capital grinding to a halt when it hits breakdown and recovery vehicles with more charges from next January.

He said: “We are the ones who keep London moving. What will happen when we cannot afford to replace our vehicles or modify them. Who will clear up the crashes?”

He aims to unite vehicle companies around London to lobby city hall bosses to give breakdown vehicles special dispensation from the levy on heavy goods vehicles that release more emissions that damage the environment.

The charge is between £100 and £200 a day.

He said: “At the moment we are going along the diplomatic route, but were we to strike or stop working, there would be chaos on our roads, and people would see how vital we are to London.”

A TfL spokesman said: “The primary aim of the LEZ is to improve air quality and, as a result, public health.

“TfL of course recognises the vital role emergency services play, but given that these vehicles also produce harmful pollution, it is not appropriate to exempt specialist vehicles used for incident support from the LEZ.”

The police and fire brigade also have to comply with the scheme.