Two of Kent's political figures are calling for the Government to stage a one-week trial when tolls at the Dartford Crossing would be removed.

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Adam Holloway, Conservative MP for Gravesham, and Gareth Johnson, the Tories' prospective parliamentary candidate for Dartford, believe the move would result in a free flow of traffic, less pollution, and quicker journey times.

The Department for Transport has yet to comment on the proposal.

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The Government is planning to increase the standard fare to use the crossing from £1 to £1.50.

Van drivers, currently paying £1.80 between 6am and 10pm, could see fares jump by more than 10 per cent to £2.

Lorry and HGV drivers will fork out an extra 27 per cent on each trip as fares get ready to rise from £2.90 during the day to £3.70.

Fare increases will also apply to DART-Tag with cars charges rising from 93p to £1 per trip, and HGV charges up almost 20 per cent from £2.69 to £3.20.

However, journeys made between 10pm and 6am, will be free for all road users.

The current proposal out for public consultation would see Dartford council tax payers get 50 free car crossings a year.

Once the free allowance has been used, all further journeys will cost 20p. To obtain the discount, residents will need to apply for a DART-Tag and top it up by £10 each year to cover the free trips.

Mr. Johnson said: "I want to see, first and foremost, for the tolls to be scrapped. The Government have said they won't scrap the tolls because they fear it will increase the levels of congestion on the crossing.

"What I say let's see and let's suspend the tolls for a week so we can try it out and we can all see then what effect, if any, the scrapping of the tolls would have on the traffic flow.

"It would get rid of much of the congestion, noise and pollution that emaniates from the toll booths.

"What angers me so much about the retention of the tolls is that in 2003 we were promised by the Government that the tolls would be scrapped once the bridge had been paid for and that has happened. So the Government have gone back on their word in keeping the tolls."