THE Government has abandoned plans for a toll road on the M6 between Birmingham and Manchester.

Transport Minister Stephen Ladyman announced the Government would instead widen the M6 by an extra lane each side.

Ladyman said: ‘Having considered all the options, I am clear that the right way forward is for the Highways Agency to focus on delivering one extra lane in each direction on the M6.

‘We have carried out detailed analysis and the extra works and land required and the costs involved do not support further work on the Expressway.’

The RAC Foundation said the toll road was a missed opportunity to tackle congestion in the region.