A majority of firms would be affected by the introduction of a national road pricing scheme, research has revealed.

According to a study by the University of Nottingham's Institute for Enterprise and Innovation, over 50 per cent of the firms polled indicated that they would be affected by a high or very high extent, reports bCentral.

"Tackling congestion would be welcome but charging them for this access would hit firms hard - costing the government more revenue in lost taxes than they would raise through road charging," said Steve Collie, national transport chairman for the Federation of Small Businesses.

Indeed, a survey conducted by the UK's business adviser barometer discovered that over 60 per cent of those polled believed that companies would be negatively impacted by the introduction of such a scheme.

During a feasibility study in 2005 on the potential implications of such a scheme, it was announced that motorists could be charged between 2p and £1.34 per mile, according to the Department for Transport.