A new government crackdown will force rickshaws to apply for a licence before they roam London's tourist spots.

The "tuc tuc" vehicles, parked in areas such as Oxford Street, will have to charge "reasonable" fares for short journeys according to Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin.

Although police can give rickshaw drivers a ban from riding in west end areas , the new rule aims to reduce the number of people paying extortionate fees.

Mr McLoughlin said: "It’s totally unacceptable for passengers to be taken for a ride by pedicab drivers and charged rip-off fares and carried in dangerous vehicles.

"More often than not it is tourists who feel the brunt of sharp practice from pedicabs, which gives visitors to Britain a distorted impression of our national sense of fair play."

Those who do not have a licence will be ordered to court where they could face paying hundreds of pounds in fees.

Calls for serious changes to be made came after a rickshaw driver was caught on camera charging £600 for a 30-minute ride .

Watch rickshaw driver caught on camera as he charged rip off prices for a half hour journey

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Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: "My manifesto made it clear that every Londoner and visitor to our city deserves a world-class service, whatever mode of transport they use.

"This move will allow us to ensure pedicabs must make big improvements to the way they operate."

Former Mayor Boris Johnson and mayoral candidate Zac Goldsmith had also put forward the idea of banning rickshaw drivers as a way of easing congestion and protecting tourists.