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The organisers of the Manchester congestion charge have insisted all trucks will be charged to travel in the city during peak times. Provisional plans for the charge did not make any mention of commercial vehicles. Since then, hauliers have been urged to have their say at a referendum, which is due to take place later this year, after it emerged that trucks could be charged the same as cars.

However, hauliers  in the region have raised doubts about whether or not trucks will be charged, so the Transport Innovation Fund (TIF), which is responsible for the plan has moved to clarify the situation. A TIF spokesman said: "We have made it clear that under the proposals being considered as part of the public consultation HGVs would only pay the same rate as cars.

"The weekday-only, peak-time congestion charge prices for HGVs would be £2 to cross the outer ring heading towards the city centre between 7am and 9:30am and £1 to cross the inner ring. There would be no charge for heading out of the city centre at this time of the day."

The spokesman adds: "During the evening peak, between 4pm and 6:30pm, HGVs would pay £1 to exit the city centre if they crossed the inner ring and £1 to cross the outer ring. There would be no charge for vehicles heading towards the city centre at this time of the  day.

"There would be no charge at all, regardless of the direction of travel, outside the limited times mentioned, and there is also no charge at all to drive on the M60."