Midland Expressway, which has debts of £1.03bn, has reportedly asked the Government to scrap a deal for it to part-finance the M54 link road, which would cost it more than £100m if the scheme goes ahead.

In return for being released from the funding, the firm has said that it would open the 27-mile stretch of the M6 Toll for free although reports vary as to whether this would be during times of heavy congestion or only if the M6 was closed.

Under initial estimates, the M6 Toll was hoped to carry around 74,000 vehicles each day but even at its peak in 2006 only 48,000 vehicles were using it.

Next month will see Midland Expressway – a subsidiary of Australian company Macquarie Alas Roads – allow Road Haulage Association members to use the road for free after registering for the offer.