And Jesus said: Thou shall worship thy fossil-fuel addiction

There are 47 churches in Westminster and its Churches Together campaign is calling on parishioners to stand in the 2014 local elections in protest over the parking charges.

Michael Beckett, church warden of St George's Hanover Square, said: "The churches feel Westminster isn't listening to local people and no one is in favour of these charges."

Small shops and chain stores have also joined forces to fight the scrapping of nearly all free parking in the West End.