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Thousands of "rogue" lorries will be stopped from driving in London within months under an outright ban to protect cyclists announced by the Mayor today.

Boris Johnson and London’s 33 boroughs have joined forces to create a Safer Lorry Zone within the M25, excluding all unsafe HGVs heavier than 3.5 tonnes.

It means an estimated 30,000 HGVs — mainly tipper trucks, cement mixers, skip and scaffolding lorries — have just months to fit compulsory side guards and cyclist-friendly mirrors or face fines of £130.

Last September the Mayor announced a £200 daily charge for dangerous lorries entering London but he has dropped this in favour of the outright ban.

Mr Johnson said: “In my cycle vision I said no lorry should be allowed in London unless it is fitted with fitted with equipment to protect the cyclist. Neither I nor the boroughs have the power to ban lorries without safety equipment on our own. It is for that reason that I proposed to use the power I do have to levy a hefty charge on lorries without such equipment. But I’m pleased to say we can combine our powers to propose a simple and comprehensive ban.”

Between them Transport for London and the boroughs have authority over all London roads. Councils controls 95 per cent of the network but TfL roads account for 45 per cent of HGV traffic.

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The new zone will incorporate an existing scheme run by London Councils which licenses 58,000 HGVs. The London Lorry Control Scheme is restricted to licensing night-time driving and HGVs over 18 tonnes, but by joining forces with TfL the ban will be beefed up.

The blanket ban will also be much easier to implement than the abandoned lorry charge scheme which critics said sent out the message that rogue lorries were acceptable if the driver was prepared to pay the charge.

Until now, construction vehicles enjoy an exemption to safety rules that apply to supermarket lorries in London. They fought for the exemption because sidebars made it difficult for tipper trucks to drive off road.

HGVs have been involved in 53 per cent of London cyclist deaths in the last four years, while accounting for only four per cent of traffic.

The Transport Research Laboratory in Bracknell calculates that 50 to 74 per cent of cycle fatalities could be prevented with side guards.

Following the November spate of cycle deaths in London, some cycling supporters called for a morning rush-hour ban on all HGVs entering the capital but this is looking increasingly unlikely.

Chair of London Councils’ Transport and Environment Committee Catherine West said: “London Councils is supportive of further action to improve cycle safety in London and will continue to work closely with the Mayor and Transport for London to develop the proposal for a new London-wide Safer Lorry Scheme.”