Politicians fed up of the way commuters are spending thousands to travel into the capital handed a petition into the Mayor of London.

Liberal Democrat London Assembly member Caroline Pidgeon presented the petition to the Greater London Authority this morning on behalf of the Mayor of Watford Peter Taylor.

Signed by over 6,000 people, it calls for Watford stations to be brought into Zone 6 OF Transport for London’s network, to reduce price disparities.

Ian Stotesbury, Liberal Democrat Councillor and resident in Callowland Ward originally started the petition in 2015 but said it is time to “push it forward.”

He said: “This is such a big issue to people in Watford paying different fares, there are huge differences.

“Commuters are paying thousands of pounds to get into Watford and I want to make sure something significant is done.”

On average a commuter travelling into London from Watford could pay £1,400 a year on fares.

There are also significant differences between fare prices from different stations in Watford to central London.

Watford Metropolitan station is located in Zone 7, Watford High Street and Bushey stations in Zone 8 and Watford Junction in Zone W – outside of Zones 1-9.

A single ticket for a commuter travelling during peak-time into central London from Watford High Street and Bushey stations costs £6.90, from Watford Metropolitan to central London £5.60 and from Watford Junction to central London (Euston station) at peak times £10.20.

Travelling in to Epping Station, technically in Essex, is in Zone 6 and cheaper than all of these options where a ticket costs £5.10 to travel during peak time into London – despite being the same distance from Watford.

Cllr Stotesbury added: “We have been leading the campaign to try and inform residents of what is happening and when we explain it to people it is seen as unfair.

“I am pleased we have got political and public support and hopefully we will get support from Transport for London (TfL) and the Mayor of London.”

Mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor said: “This has a direct impact on resident’s finances, we have a lot of people commuting to London and struggling financially.

“We need to make sure residents don’t suffer because they don’t live in London.

“I previously met a resident who said she did not want to take a job in London because of the costs of travel.

“There is no logic to the current system.”

Liberal Democrat London Assembly member Caroline Pidgeon who presented the petition to the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan and is supporting the petition said: “There needs to be a review of trains in London and beyond to make sure people get a good deal.

“It is time the mayor reviewed all zones in London and beyond.”

A response to the petition is expected in the next few months.