DRIVERS who lag behind on congestion charge payments are in good company – foreign diplomats in London owe hundreds of thousands of pounds in fines.

The United States embassy has been the worst offender in the last six months, racking up £271,000 in fines since November. However, Angola’s embassy has amassed the largest bill overall – a massive £504,450. The US says it is not required to pay the fines under the terms of the Geneva Convention but London mayor Ken Livingstone disagrees.

He memorably called the US ambassador a ‘chiselling little crook’ for dodging the charge.

Livingstone said: ‘It is remarkable that the richest country in the world topped the congestion charge non-payers’ league over the last six months. British diplomats respect American law in the USA, United States diplomats should do the same in this country. By refusing to do so, they bring their government into disrepute.’