Research from MART (Manchester Against Road Tolls), shows that the burden of repaying a £1.8 billion transport investment loan given to Manchester will fall on motorists driving into towns like Bolton, Bury, Rochdale, Oldham, Stockport, and Altrincham.

Cllr David White, Liberal Democrat transport spokesman for Stockport said: “We never felt that charging just to drive into Manchester city centre added up, despite receiving weasel word assurances from City Council leaders. It was obvious there was a need to recoup a shortfall in revenue and that meant taxing towns like Stockport."

MART co-ordinator Sean Corker said: "During the consultation process, no mention was made of the outer town charging.

"Transport investment in Manchester is badly needed, but the money must not have 'strings' attached which tie the population of a whole conurbation to a ruinous and doomed road pricing experiment."