THE government today paved the way for Greater Manchester to introduce Britain's biggest congestion charge scheme in return for a £3bn revolution in public transport.

The region could benefit from £1.5bn in grants, plus permission to borrow £1.2bn more, if it brings in a peak-hour charge of up to £5 a day at current prices.

Manchester's proposed inner congestion charge zone has just been revealed. Transport bosses say the revised zone will mean only a fifth of peak-time drivers will pay the charge.

But what will it mean for ordinary commuters? Here is an at a glance guide to the C-Charge. And don't forget to click on the photogallery for a map of the public transport improvements, the inner zone map and on the interactive map to work out just how you will be affected.

*Funding package of up to £3bn, including £1.5bn government grants, £1.2bn of loan paid back through a congestion charge, £100m of third-party funding and government money for extra rail carriages.

*Money comes on top of about £600m for the first phase of the Metrolink tram network extension

*Money will pay for a package of public transport improvements

*Completion of the "Big Bang" Metrolink tram extension, with lines to Rochdale and Oldham town centres, the airport, Ashton under Lyne and the Trafford Centre

*120 extra yellow buses for schools

*Bus feeder services to rail and Metrolink stations

*Increase in bus services to the city centre

*Eight new transport interchanges

*Increased rail capacity for 7,000 extra passengers at peak times

*Double the amount of park and ride facilities around the city

*Real time electronic information at all major bus, rail and tram stations

*A new travel "smartcard" which can be used across different forms of transport owned by different companies

*Charge not introduced until summer 2013

*Will be capped at £5 a day at 2007 prices, estimated to be £6 a day in 2013

*Fewer than 20 per cent of drivers expected to pay a charge at all

*Charge based on two "rings" - first just inside the M60 and the second roughly around the inner ring road

*Motorists will use a "tag and beacon" system, with pre-paid electronic tags

*Charges apply Monday to Friday, from 7am-9.30am towards the city centre, and from 4pm-6.30pm outwards

*Drivers will pay £2 (at 2007 prices) for crossing the outer ring in the morning, and a further £1 for crossing the inner ring

*Outward peak-time journeys will cost £1 for passing the inner ring and £1 for passing the outer ring.

*No charges at other times, or at weekends or on Bank Holidays.

Click here to see an interactive map of the congestion charge zones