The war on cars in Manchester city centre

Four days before Christmas, two regulars sit by the bar of a city centre pub. They have one thing on their minds.

'It's mayhem down there now," says one of the men, gesturing in the general direction of Deansgate.

The previous night was Mad Friday - or at least it was meant to be - and the pair are offering their views on why the city's streets were so deserted on what was traditionally one of the busiest nights of the year.

After explaining why they chose to stay at home - the price of taxis and unreliable buses are among the reasons listed - the conversation turns to another topic.

Over the festive period, traffic chaos on Deansgate was the talk of the town. Frustrated drivers faced queues of more than an hour as the street and surrounding roads were jammed into total gridlock.

In chaotic scenes, some motorists mounted pavements to try to get through, with videos circulating online of fights breaking out among motorists.

The disruption was blamed on ongoing work to create a new cycle lane along Deansgate, and sparked a debate about the role of cars in a rapidly expanding city centre.

And it wasn’t just a Christmas problem, the congestion has continued into the New Year.

For decades, the car has dominated Manchester's urban landscape. Our streets have been designed around them but things appear to be changing.

Manchester council has made no secret of its desire to reduce the number of cars in town.

The town hall has also announced plans to reduce the speed limit on city centre streets to 20mph.

By 2040, the council wants 90pc of all trips to town to be made on foot, by bike or using public transport. The ambitious plans are supported by clean air and active travel campaigners, but many who live and work in the city