Red Ken's got the wrong woman!

ANNOYED Ipswich woman Marie Gentry today hit out at London's new congestion charge scheme after being accused of flouting it.

The 37-year-old, of Mallard Way, claims she was driving around Ipswich, not London, when she is said to have dodged the charges.

However, a letter dropped on her doormat on May 9 claiming her vehicle details had been clocked travelling through north and east London.

Instead of plotting her way around the capital at 4.15pm on May 1, Mrs Gentry claims she had just picked up her daughter from school and was on her way to vote, in Birkfield Drive, in the local elections.

"You wouldn't catch me driving in London, said Mrs Gentry, who visited the capital earlier this month on train.

"I couldn't believe it when it arrived. I wasn't impressed as I knew exactly what I was doing on that day."

The episode has left a sour taste for Mrs Gentry, who is married to Mark and has an eight-year-old daughter, Emily.

"Nobody seems bothered about it, said the Chantry Infants School classroom assistant.

"The people we spoke to on the helpline were really unhelpful to be honest. They don't give you any hard and fast answers.

"It's frustrating that people can do this and innocent people have to cope with it and sort it all out. I'm worried that it will happen again."

A spokesman for Transport for London, who run the charge scheme, said he could not comment on individual cases but said the matter would be investigated.

He encouraged Mrs Gentry to take the matter further if she is concerned about the conduct of the helpline staff. He added she would not be penalised for late payment of the fine.

On Thursday, Steve Molyneaux spoke out after he claimed he was also wrongly accused of avoiding the congestion charge.

Have you wrongly received a penalty charge for driving in London? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or email eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk or join the forum at www.eveningstar.co.uk