Tyne Tunnel tolls to rise from midnight

The cost of driving a car through the Tyne Tunnel will have increased by over 25% in little over a year

Increased toll charges for using the Tyne Tunnel are set to come into effect from midnight.

Car drivers will have to pay £2.40, while HGVs and other larger vehicles will be charged at £4.40.

It represents an increase of 9%, however toll charges have risen by up to 26% in little over a year.

This comes at a time when major roadworks are under way on the Tyne Bridge, with lane closures causing severe disruption for commuters.

This latest increase represents the second rise for tunnel users in the last 12 months.

On 1 May 2023, the cost for cars rose from £1.90 to £2.20, and from £3.90 to £4.40 for HGVs.

Added to the latest change, that represents an overall rise of 26% for car drivers and 23% for HGV drivers for using the mile-long stretch from Jarrow to Howdon.

As a privately operated and maintained stretch of road, the tunnel is entirely funded by toll charges.

There are no longer toll booths in operation, with drivers having until midnight the day after their journey to pay their tolls by phone or online.

Follow BBC North East onX (formerly Twitter), Facebookand Instagram. Send your story ideas to:[e-mail].