Five councils have won the first stage of a legal challenge over Sadiq Khan’s decision to expand London’s ultra low emission zone (ULEZ).

The outer London boroughs – Bexley, Bromley, Harrow, Hillingdon – along with Surrey County Council teamed up to fight the mayor’s plans in February.

Today, it has been announced that the case will be going to High Court on two grounds – the failure to follow statutory procedures and failure of consultation over the scrappage scheme.

It is reported that the case is set to be heard in July.

The ULEZ is currently limited to the area within London’s North and South Circular roads, but is due to be extended to cover the whole of the capital from August 29.

It will then border areas of Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent and Surrey.

Drivers of vehicles that do not meet minimum emissions standards will be charged a £12.50 daily fee for entering the zone.

However this ruling could potentially delay the planned expansion.

Nick Rogers, the City Hall Conservatives transport spokesperson said: “The High Court has now ruled there is sufficient evidence that Sadiq Khan’s ULEZ decision may have been unlawful.

“The mayor clearly does not have the legal grounds to proceed with his ULEZ tax plans and must now explain his actions to the court.”

Conservatives in London also previously claimed City Hall officials “manipulated” the final results of Transport for London’s (TfL) consultation by excluding some so-called “campaign responses”, which lowered the level of opposition in the final count from 62% to 59%.

Peter Fortune, the Conservative London Assembly Member for Bexley and Bromley, said on Twitter: "This is really good news for hard working people across #Bexley and #Bromley Well done to those council Leaders who pushed this - including our very own @TeresaONeillLBB and Cllr Colin Smith.

"It’s not over yet, but one thing is certainly clear: the camera expansion must stop now!"

More to follow.