The plans to introduce a charge on driving and in and out of Manchester city centre will be put to the people from next week.

For a two week period local residents will be able to cast their votes as to whether they support the plans to introduce fee to drive in the northern city.

The public response will then be taken into consideration as the local authorities weight up the pro’s and con’s of the scheme.

Drivers in their car hire transport will be keen to learn the outcome of the referendum, which will affect how road users can access the city.

The plans to introduce a charge face significant opposition, not least from the Manchester Against Road Tolls (Mart) group, which has a website dedicated to voicing their objections and mobilising support for their cause.

A congestion charge was introduced in Central London by the city’s then mayor Ken Livingstone in 2003.