A WEST Midlands Euro MP claims the region has become a victim of a plan to force drivers off roads by a deliberate worsening of traffic congestion by authorities.

The claim, by Tory MEP Philip Bradbourne, comes on top of accusations that London Mayor Ken Livingstone has altered traffic lights sequences in the capital to increase road chaos and to win support for his congestion charging scheme.

It is believed he has ordered lengthening of the sequence of lights on some of London's busiest junctions.

Mr Bradbourne believes that the same tactics are being used in Birmingham, the Black Country and other parts of the West Midlands, as plans are hatched to introduce road pricing here.

"Our region is at the heart of the nation's road network," said Mr Bradbourne.

"If major motoring groups believe that this is going on in London, then as sure as night follows day, this will be happening in our region.

"You only have to look at the plethora of simultaneous road 'improvements' at key points in the region's road network to make a connection. Couple this with charge priorities and the enormous increase in bus priority measures and it is not difficult to see the anti-car agenda.

"The Government must think that the people of the West Midlands are stupid. Trying to coerce people off the roads by unnecessary delays and effective narrowing of anterior roads by stealth is mean-spirited, undemocratic and typical of Labour's control-freak mentality. It is bound to backfire."