Severn bridges tolls come to an end after 52 years

Motorists can travel for free for the first time in 52 years on the two Severn bridges as the tolls are scrapped on Monday.

The abolition comes as thousands of people are expected to make their journeys home for Christmas.

Charges on the original Severn Crossing have been in place since 1966, when the fee stood at two shillings and sixpence - the equivalent of 12.5p in decimal currency today.

They were then introduced on the second crossing - renamed the Prince of Wales Bridge in April this year - when it opened 30 years later in 1996.

The UK Government said scrapping the tolls will provide an immediate benefit of over £100 million per year for Wales.

There will be no more tolls from Monday 17 December.

Highways England began work to remove the tolls on Friday morning. Work continued over the weekend with the Prince of Wales Bridge fully closed each evening.