Early evening visitors to central London who travel by car will no longer have to pay the congestion charge.

Ken Livingstone, the mayor, has responded to the complaints of restaurants and theatres, which claim their takings have been hit by the fee.

Transport for London said yesterday it intended to bring forward the end of charging hours by 30 minutes to 6.00pm when a proposed extension west into Kensington and Chelsea begins in 2007.

The change will mean a reduction in revenue of between £5m and £10m a year.