[Will.]

Oxford Street will be pedestrianised by 2020, the Mayor of London's office has announced.

The plan is part of new mayor Sadiq Khan's commitment to tackle air pollution in the England's capital city.

Cars are already banned on most of Oxford Street between 7am and 7pm on every day apart from Sunday, but it is a major thoroughfare for buses and taxis.

The central London shopping hub is one of the busiest in the capital and is visited by more than four million people a week, according to The Times.

Valerie Shawcross, London's deputy mayor for transport, told the London Assembly that the plan was to ban all vehicles from Tottenham Court Road to beyond Selfridges and the entrance to Bond Street Tube station.

The plan will be rolled out over two stages to reduce disruption on the 1.2-mile stretch.

The ban will be first implemented on the eastern section, from Oxford Circus onwards, she said.

Mayor Khan has already pledged to introduce a charge for the most polluting vehicles.

The pedestrianisation will coincide with the opening of Crossrail - a new east-west train line.

The announcement comes as Mr Khan offered his 'warmest congratulations' to Theresa May on becoming Prime Minister.

He said: 'Theresa takes on the role at a critical time in our history and I look forward to working constructively together in the interests of London and the whole UK.

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