Overcrowding fear over Ken's 24-hour OAP pass

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Bidding for the "grey vote" in the mayoral election, he wants to allow pensioners free access to public transport between 4.30am and 9am - despite this being the busiest time of day, with 1.8 million Londoners on the move at 8.30am.

Brian Paddick, the Liberal Democrat mayoral candidate, said: "To try to force more people into overcrowded trains is nonsense.

"To have pensioners going shopping or visiting museums at times when they will be fighting commuters for space on trains, does not make sense."

At present the Freedom Pass - provided by the 33 London boroughs to more than a million people over 60 and those with disabilities - operates from 9am to 4.30am on weekdays.

Merrick Cockell, Tory leader of London Councils, said: "The Freedom pass was historically-given to disabled and older retired people so they could move around London at relatively off-peak times.

"If he is now saying it can be used at all times, that will put extra pressure on the peak hours when the working population has to get to work on time."

Tory mayoral candidate Boris Johnson said: "Pensioners are being made to feel grateful when they have paid out all their lives and get a rotten deal back. They deserve a Mayor who will spend every penny wisely."

Mr Livingstone told the BBC: "No pensioner is going to get on a rush-hour train unless they have to, but many of them have hospital appointments, a lot are helping out their children with their grandchildren and so on, so we're making life a bit easier."

Brian Paddick is to be interviewed on BBC London today at 6.30pm, on BBC1.