Businesses in Oxfordshire have called for road pricing to prevent the county's traffic grinding to a halt.

The Oxfordshire Chamber of Commerce, which represents 350 companies in the county, welcomed the publication of a report last Friday which said motorists should pay to cut congestion.

The Government report, by former British Airways boss Sir Rod Eddington, said traffic jams could be cut by half if motorists were charged for the journeys they made.

But the county council had already come out against the proposals, saying there are no plans to introduce it in Oxfordshire.

Experts say a satellite tracking system could be used to enforce the toll, with prices varying from 2p per mile for driving on a quiet road out of the rush hour to £1.34 for motorways at peak times.

The Government has signalled it wants a national road pricing scheme in place within ten years.

Local authorities have until next July to apply for a share of a £2.5 billion Transport Innovation Fund to pay for pilot schemes.

Claire Prosser from the Oxfordshire Chamber of Commerce said road pricing in the county was becoming "increasingly inevitable".

A national survey had found 87 per cent of businesses in favour of road pricing - but only if the money raised was spent improving public transport.

Miss Prosser said: "To gain support any proposals on road pricing must not be just an extra tax but form part of a thought through, strategic plan on the future of transport in the UK.

"Oxford already suffers from bottlenecks and gridlocks due to the various ongoing roadworks, especially at Headington.

"Also the park and ride schemes, which run very successfully, highlight the extent of traffic passing through Oxford."

Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander described the Eddington report as "a major contribution to the understanding of the long-term impact of transport decisions on the UK's productivity, stability and growth".

He said: "It provides a solid foundation on which to ensure transport supports sustainable economic growth while minimising impact on the environment."

The Government is expected to give a full response in this week's Pre-Budget Report.

David Robertson, Oxfordshire County Council's cabinet member for transport, said congestion is a "fact of life" and pricing people off the road was not the answer.