There is no doubt driving in London is not the easiest thing to do. The capital’s crowded streets and lack of parking mean that even with the Congestion Charging zone - not to mention ULEZ - driving around is time-consuming, awkward and costly.

Many would point to the extensive public transport network of trains, buses, the Tube and extras like the Croydon trams and DLR as alternatives, but these don’t go everywhere, won’t run all the time, are subject to delays and, this year in particular, affected by industrial action.

An obvious alternative would be to take motorbike lessons in London so that you can dodge the traffic on two wheels and travel where you like, when you like. Alternatively, you could try something a bit different - like riding a camel.

It might be one of the world’s more obvious statements to say that London is not exactly the Middle Eastern desert, so it was small wonder that residents of Chingford were astonished to see a woman leading one of the humped creatures along her street.

Predictably, the jokes about this being a handy way of dodging the ULEZ system were soon doing the rounds on social media, although it is always possible that the creature was being taken to - or from - a nativity play, rather than being used as a means of transport.

Needless to say, using a camel to get around London wouldn’t be the wisest move. It’s not the weather - they can cope with some very cold nights in the North African desert - but clearly they are not used to busy roads and not very fast either, with a maximum speed of 40 mph.

So while the sight of a ‘ship of the desert’ in Chingford certainly raised a few eyebrows, it is fair to say there won’t be many people taking camel riding lessons in London anytime soon. It’s time to get in the saddle of something that will get you around the capital rather faster and more efficiently.