TRANSPORT specialists have recommended road charging on the M62 between Liverpool and Manchester.

In a special report they said road pricing is the only sure-fire way to stop the motorway becoming gridlocked in 15 years time.

They said rush hour speeds drop as low as 40mph on the Liverpool bound carriageway and 58mph on the Manchester bound side.

Road pricing would probably be done by satellite based tracking technology.

The report was produced by transport specialists Halcrow for the Northern Way, the body set up from three regional development agencies to find a way of bridging the £30bn productivity gap between north and south.

The report suggests congestion will be boosted by the increasing popularity of Liverpool John Lennon Airport and the business developments planned for the route, including Omega.

Other suggestions to ease traffic include lanes opened in different directions depending on traffic levels, and opening up the hard shoulder.

Warrington Borough Council said it will be looking at the study and commenting on the report in the future.