AS the charges for crossing the Severn Bridges into Gwent rise again, a politician has accused the government of failing the people.

Mike German, Liberal Democrat AM for South Wales East, had called for a freeze on the tolls but they increased yesterday by five per cent.

Last month the Highways Agency announced the new prices would reflect the recent reduction in the rate of VAT.

There was a storm of protest when the VAT cut was not passed on immediately to motorists using the bridges.

But Mr German pointed out that despite this, the tolls had still gone up.

“Labour has failed the people of South Wales. I have written three times to the responsible UK government minister asking that the tolls be frozen as a means of stimulating the economy of South Wales.

"The tolls are a tax on business and tourism. If the UK government were serious about the injecting support for our economy then they would be freezing the tolls."

He alleged that already many key distribution companies on the Welsh side of the bridges were considering the impact of the increases on jobs.

Welsh manufacturing was taking a bigger hit than any other part of the UK and the cost of getting their goods to market will now be greater, said Mr German.

The new toll prices were introduced as stipulated in the Severn Bridges Act 1992 which sets out the basis for the yearly increases in rates. Since 1989, the annual rises have been calculated in line with changes in the Retail Price Index.