swan

One way to protest I suppose.

London - London mayor Ken Livingstone had a narrow escape on Thursday from a barrage of custard pie-wielding clowns angry at his new traffic-reduction plans.

The clowns from Zippo's Circus say a new charge on motorists driving into central London will hurt their touring show. Several lay in wait for the mayor outside London's riverside City Hall on Thursday morning.

"Our circus has 70 vehicles and we crisscross London all through the year," said the circus owner, Zippo. "We've worked out it's going to cost us £20 000 a year."

The mayor managed to give the angry clowns the slip. Livingstone's office later confirmed he was in the building but would not say whether he had entered by a back door.

The £5 "congestion charge" is the brainchild of London's populist mayor, who says it will cut traffic jams and raise £130 million a year to improve public transport.

The charge is controversial, with one poll suggesting that almost one in three drivers would be prepared to break the law to avoid paying it. - Sapa-AP

DJ Dunk

iTrader: (5)

LOL

Reminded me of that classic film . . . Killer Klowns From Outer Space.

skipjack

class. keep tryin' fellas!