Oxfordshire County Council has ruled out introducing road pricing, saying it would hit poorer motorists hardest.

In new laws announced by the Government today, councils will get powers to tackle congestion by introducing local road pricing schemes.

Ministers said the Local Transport Bill would allow councils to push ahead with schemes to charge motorists for using the roads without seeking permission from the Government.

The Department for Transport said it anticipated councils would go in the direction of pay-as-you-drive schemes, charging motorists for each mile driven, with higher charges at busy periods, rather than a simple zonal system, like the one operating in London since 2003.

However, the Government has so far received just two proposals for congestion charging outside the capital - from Manchester and Cambridge - despite giving money to 10 areas to prepare projects.

And tonight Oxfordshire gave the idea a thumbs-down. Ian Hudspeth, the council's cabinet member for transport, said: "We're aware of the Transport Bill and its references to road pricing.

"However, we can see no reason why we would introduce road pricing in Oxfordshire at the present time. We consider the suggestions in the bill are disproportionate and likely to hit the poorest drivers the hardest."