DRIVERS will no longer have to pay to get into Wales over the Severn road bridges.

The government has abolished tolls along the M4 Prince of Wales bridge and the original Severn Crossing. It is expected to save regular commuters £1,400 a year.

Alun Cairns, secretary of state for Wales, said: "The end of the tolls is a major milestone for the economies of south Wales and south west of England, and will remove historic barriers between communities. Scrapping the tolls means an end to generations of people paying to simply cross the border, and delivering this has been one of my key aims as Welsh Secretary.

"A week before Christmas drivers will no longer have to pay every time they cross the border, meaning more money in their pockets, helping them with the cost of living and leaving them with and more cash to spend in their local areas."

Tolls have been charged on the Severn Crossings since 1966. Cars and minibuses were charged £5.60 to cross the bridge into Wales.