WITH the scrapping of the tolls today (17th December) motorists can cross the two Severn Bridges into Wales for free for the first time in 52 years.

The start of the mammoth operation to remove the toll booths was deliberately timed to beat the upcoming Christmas bank holiday rush.

The last driver to pay to cross over from England into Wales on Sunday was Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns.

He called the move ‘a major milestone for the economies of South Wales and the south west of England’.

The old Severn Bridge, opened by the Queen in 1966, started off with a two shillings and sixpence - half crown - charge for cars. The second Severn crossing - renamed the Prince of Wales Bridge earlier this year - opened in 1996, with toll booths on the Welsh side.

The charge to enter Wales, until Monday morning, had been £5.60.

The move is predicted to boost the Welsh economy by £100m a year, while regular commuters are likely to save around £1,400.

For the time being only some of the toll booths on the Prince of Wales Bridge have been removed and temporary narrow lanes established.

The M48 old Severn Bridge is now closed for a couple of days for similar works to be undertaken.

* It’s actually thought to be the first time for centuries that crossing the Severn had been completely free. Documents dating pack to the 12th century suggest that a payment was required even then to use the ferry crossing.Find out more about the operation to remove the tolls, by reading this week's Beacon, in shops on Wednesday.