Severn tolls to be scrapped by end of 2018

 Tolls on the Severn crossings are to be abolished for all vehicles at the end of next year.

Alun Cairns, the Welsh Secretary, said the move would boost the economy of South Wales by around £100 million a year and could save regular users of the bridges by car as much as £1,400 a year.

Charges are now levied only on westbound traffic – leading some to describe them as a “tax on entering Wales” – and stand at £6.70 for cars, £13.40 for large vans and minibuses and £20 for buses and lorries.

The two bridges are used by more than 25 million vehicles annually crossing the Bristol Channel on the M4 motorway.