Lorries will be banned from London during the day under plans unveiled by Conservative mayoral candidate for the city, Steve Norris.

He said the move would cut chaos on London's packed roads and spark a reduction in pollution.

Mr Norris' plan would extend an existing ban to stop commercial vehicles delivering loads during daylight hours in an area which covers most of the 33 London boroughs.

He would also replace the "bureaucratic and ineffective scheme" which stops lorries from delivering during off-peak hours.

He said the current system causes "congestion, delay and cost", but doesn't reduce noise levels at night.

Mr Norris stressed that a night-time ban would not be completely abandoned, but reformed.

He said: "London has a night time lorry ban that is bureaucratic and substantially ineffective. Despite its good intentions, the reality is that, in practice, lorries can enter the city at anytime via the excluded routes.

"This system causes huge traffic problems and, during the summer in particular, contributes to our pollution problems. Worst of all, the system doesn't make it any quieter for Londoners at night. It is simply not acceptable to continue in this way.

"My plans for a daytime ban for lorries will come as a relief to motorists and businesses throughout London who currently suffer with the chaos caused by lorries delivering during the day".

New jobs

Meanwhile one of Labour's mayoral hopefuls has stressed the importance of hi-tech industries to London's future.

Frank Dobson said growth in the creative and information and communications technology industries was crucial to creating new jobs in the city.

On a visit to the University of Westminster, he said: "One of the biggest challenges for the Mayor of London will be to build on the strengths which the capital enjoys both to attract new industries and to encourage re-investment by those firms already here.

"It isn't just a matter of keeping ahead of the game with constant development and renewal. It is equally vital that London can provide a skillful and motivated workforce."

He said improving training and transport were crucial to helping people get work in the the developing hi-tech industries.

Mr Dobson will hear later this month whether he or other Labour mayoral hopefuls Ken Livingstone and Glenda Jackson has been chosen to stand as the party's candidate in May's election for London mayor.