TRANSPORT chiefs have been accused of misleading motorists in a congestion charge leaflet sent to 2.5 million homes in Greater Manchester.

The leaflet - promoting the case for road pricing - includes four case studies to show how the scheme will affect real people who travel in the region. But the M.E.N. has learned that the four 'local people' were made up by transport officials and the pictures are of models who live in the U. S.

The leaflets feature `Terry', said to be a self-employed van driver from Rochdale. He is, in reality, a 22-year-old American model named Erich Dalke from Seattle, more than 4,600 miles from the congestion charge zone. Another example cites a woman named `Ann', described as a solicitor from Ashton under Lyne - but who is in fact a U.S. model called Kiki.

Their images, along with a mum-of-two named `Rachel' from Trafford and jobless `Neil' from Beswick, are all believed to have been bought from a U.S. internet modelling library.

PR chiefs admit no-one living or working in Greater Manchester was interviewed to produce the leaflet and the case studies were made up.

The GMPTA website - which originally claimed the four examples were based on `real people' - has been changed to say they are `fictional case studies based on accurate travel plans under current proposals'.

When we approached Spinoza Kennedy Vesey, the public relations firm which represents the GMPTA, it admitted the pictures were of models but claimed the case studies were real, and the identities of the local people involved had been changed to `protect privacy'.

Later the firm admitted the examples given were not genuine people at all, and no-one had been interviewed or surveyed to compile the leaflet.

The congestion charging leaflet, produced by Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority (GMPTA), was delivered to homes across the region and was also given out with copies of the M.E.N..

Opponents of the congestion charge said the use of imaginary case studies confirmed their view that transport chiefs were misleading motorists.

Shame

Sean Corker, for Manchester against Road Tolls, said: "Considering the way the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities and GMPTE have handled this whole process, nothing surprises me."

Mark Hunter, Lib Dem MP for Cheadle, said: "I really don't know whether to laugh or cry. All along the GMPTE have been less than straightforward in the way information is presented. There are enough people who are going to be adversely affected if this goes through, so it's a great shame they've not taken the opportunity to speak to some real people."

Transport officials said the leaflet was intended to give an idea of the charges people may face. Roger Jones, chairman of the GMPTA, said it had been put together `very quickly' to make sure everyone had a chance to learn the facts about a congestion charge.

"With more time, maybe it would have been better to interview proper families, but I don't mind if they are actors and actresses as long as the information is correct.

"I was one of the first to say a leaflet should go out to every house in Greater Manchester and I am really proud of what we have done."

A spokeswoman for the Transport Innovation Fund bid said: "The case studies are examples of what will be real experiences for people if the £3bn of transport improvements and the congestion charge are introduced.

"The studies have been worked out based on real journeys taken by real people; taking children to school, going to football matches or shopping, visiting hospitals, working in peak times and delivering goods around Greater Manchester. We have used pictures of models to illustrate these case studies, as is common practise in all forms of media."

Asked why no real people were interviewed for the case studies, she said: "It is impossible to interview anybody about the situation in 2012. Nobody is paying it at the moment and it is impossible to interview anybody about that."

The use of U.S. models was spotted by Internet blogger Thomas McEldowney, 32, a part-time photographer. He realised information on one of the website images revealed its true origins to be an American photo website.

The M.E.N. is staging a televised debate on the congestion charge. To take part, send your name, address and phone number to Congestion Charge Debate, Newsdesk, Manchester Evening News, Number 1 Scott Place, Manchester M3 3RN. Or you can email newsdesk@men-news.co.uk

What do you think of the c-charge leaflets? Have your say.

Click here to read M.E.N. picture editor John Jeffay's take on the subject via his blog.