The Mayor of London has pledged his support to send 4x4s and other vehicles to Ukraine that would otherwise be scrapped under the Ulez scheme.

In an apparent U-turn, Sadiq Khan has asked the Transport Secretary, Mark Harper, to enable Londoners, and others across the country, to donate suitable vehicles to Ukraine through scrappage schemes.

Previously, the mayor made it clear he did not believe altering the Ulez scheme for exporting vehicles would be possible under current laws.

A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said: 'Sadiq wants to support Ukraine in any way he can and is deeply frustrated that sending Londoners' non-compliant ULEZ vehicles to Ukraine via the scrappage scheme is not within his legal powers.'

Now, Mr Khan and former defence secretary Ben Wallace have said they decided to send the vehicles following 'conversations with the Mayor's Office in Kyiv and other partners.'

It comes after Mr Khan's controversial Ulez expansion generated £5.3million in its first week with 300,000 extra drivers charged for driving non-compliant vehicles within Greater London.

More than 425,000 ULEZ charges were paid in the week following the extension, compared to just 140,000 the week before.

Under the Ulez scrappage scheme, which came into force in August, Londoners with vehicles that fall foul of emission standards can claim up to £2,000 when their non-compliant vehicles are scrapped.

The letter, jointly sent to Mr Harper by Mr Wallace, urged him to give motorists 'money for taking polluting vehicles off our cities' streets while providing vital support towards the people of Ukraine.

'We understand there is a particular requirement for 4×4 vehicles, as well as emergency service vehicles,' it continued.

The Telegraph previously reported Kyiv's mayor, Vitali Klitschko, had written to his London counterpart to suggest the idea as part of the scrappage scheme.

'This could be most quickly done by altering the national regulations for the Certificate of Destruction, which is required as proof that a vehicle has been permanently scrapped, to instead enable the export of suitable vehicles to Ukraine via a registered charity or national scheme,' the letter said.

'We recognise that any such change would need cross-departmental co-ordination within Government, not least to ensure that any vehicles sent to Ukraine meet their needs.'

Susan Hall, the Conservative candidate for mayor of London, previously described the move to block vehicles as 'absurd'.

She told The Telegraph: 'Londoners who choose to scrap their cars should have the freedom to decide for themselves if they want their car sent to support Ukraine.

'Standing with Ukraine against tyrants like Putin is not only a moral imperative but also in the best interest of all Londoners and the global community.'

Richard Lofthouse, who works with Car for Ukraine, which deliver 4x4s and trucks to the war effort, also slammed Mr Khan for showing a 'lack of political courage'.