First Minister Rhodri Morgan yesterday called the fact Severn Bridge users can’t use credit and debit cards “plainly absurd”.

There is currently a dispute between the company operating the crossings, Severn River Crossings, and the UK Government over the issue. The Government believes the company should meet the costs of processing card payments, while SRC believes the Government should pick up the bill.

Currently, car motorists must pay the £5.40 toll in cash. At First Minister’s question time in the Senedd, Mr Morgan told AMs he had asked Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon to resolve the problem quickly.

He said: "What we have said is that whoever is right about this, don't hang about too much, solve this problem expeditiously, get it done over the next few months because it's plainly absurd that you can't use debit or credit cards for such an important crossing to us.”

Discussions with banks began last year on the possibility of introducing credit and debit card payments at the tolls on the two bridges.

A working group involving The Highways Agency, Assembly and SRC was set up in October 2007 to look at the feasibility of accepting credit and debit cards.

The group presented its findings to the Highways Agency last October and said that accepting cards was feasible in principle.

Detailed discussions between banks and equipment suppliers are ongoing. SRC general manager Jim Clune said last December: “We hope it will happen, but it’s not within our powers as a company as the legislation needs to be changed.”

Mr Clune said it was up to the UK Government to change legislation allowing a credit and debit card system to be introduced on the bridges.

Tory AM William Graham said at the First Minister’s Question Time that tolls introduced to pay for the second crossing had raised £700 million.