The company that administers the congestion charge in London has been fined £4.5m over the past two years for failing to meet targets.

Capita, which has operations in Darlington, has been fined more than £7,400 every day the charge has operated, according to research by Liberal Democrat members of the London Assembly.

The party's transport spokeswoman Lynne Featherstone said: "From the start of the congestion charge, the ability of Capita to meet the targets set for them has been consistently poor.

''While they have improved their service over the last two years, it has time and again failed to meet its obligations in many areas."