News of proposals to introduce a congestion charge to Cambridge has prompted a deluge of e-mails, text and phone calls to the Evening News newsdesk from readers against the scheme.

The paper revealed details of a charging zone drawn up by council officials in an exclusive story on Monday and it has since dominated its headlines, with five pages dedicated to the story on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, including three splashes.

Coverage has focused on the response of residents, businesses, and the education and health sectors, as well as highlighting the public transport measures that will be needed.

Editor Murray Morse said: "We've received a massive backlash to the plans being floated by Cambridgeshire County Council - which include charging drivers up to £5 for going into the city during morning rush hours, and charging city residents to move around in the city at those times and for leaving the city.

"Our online poll is showing 72 per cent of readers against with more than 2,000 people having voted – and we've received a deluge of e-mails, text and phone calls from readers against the scheme."

Two pages of comments were published on Wednesday, with two more planned for today. Dozens of comments have also been left on the message boards at cambridge-news.co.uk.

Murray added: "We are struggling to get it all in. It is one of those stories where you know you are going to get a reaction, but we didn't think we would get this uproar.

"It is an interesting dilemma. At the paper we are looking at it from the point of view that this is on the table, let's see what the reaction would be.

"I don't think anyone would say that something doesn't need to be done, and the paper would agree with that.

"What we have said all along is that, if road tolls are the way to go, what has to be in place first is a decent public transport infrastructure."

The paper first revealed almost a year ago that Cambridgeshire County Council was considering becoming one of the first authorities outside London to make drivers pay for coming into the city, with a charge of £4 mooted.

Monday's story gave new details about a zone where the charge would be levied, and the suggestion of a fee of up to £5 during the morning rush hours.

The council is using the paper as a sounding board for public opinion on the scheme, which is backed with a promise of Government money to pay for associated public transport infrastructure.