M6 toll charge increases by 50p to £6.40 for cars on weekdays

• Prices go up today for cars and lorries using the M6 toll on weekdays in the daytime.

• Cars will be charged £6.40.

• HGVs will be charged £11.50.

• Night time journeys for lorries will stay the same due to roadworks on the M6.

The cost of travelling on the M6 toll road has increased today for cars, vans and lorries using the 27-mile route in the day time.

The toll operators describe themselves as "the convenient and reliable alternative to congested roads in the Midlands" but the decision has provoked anger among motoring groups with calls for it to be nationalised.

The director of the RAC Foundation believes it should be brought under control of government-owned Highways England.

The Midlands Combined Authority which has been encouraging people to use the toll for environmental reasons, writes,

"We are also surprised that MEL is proposing these increases at a time when a major public consultation on air quality, including the introduction of a clean air zone in Birmingham, is about to begin"

As part of his Renewal Plan for the West Midlands, Mayor Andy Street pledged to explore a scheme to encourage more heavy vehicles to use the M6 toll at peak times, and open up it for free during serious traffic incidents on the M6.

Click here to see the new prices

Below are the old prices

The M6 toll opened in 2003. Around 50,000 drivers used the road every day last year, a total of 18.3 million across the year – an increase of 4.7%.

We spoke to drivers at Hilton Park Services, including a man who's people carrier would have cost £11.30 on the toll.