The Messenger is leading a campaign calling for a halt to the planned toll increases at the Dartford Crossing.

Hundreds of people have signed our Fight the Hike online petition since it was launched.

The proposal is to increase the toll from £1.50 to £2.50 in April next year. A 50p increase for cars and vans is due to be introduced in November with £1 extra per journey for lorries.

Our campaign against the toll increases has been backed by Gravesham MP Adam Holloway, Dartford MP Gareth Johnson, and the two borough councillors, among others.

Mr Johnson has agreed to go with us to present our petition to the Department for Transport in the final week of consultations, which end on September 23.

Mr Johnson said: "I believe the crossing should be free for all users.

"People were promised that the crossing would be free once the bridge had been paid for. This happened in 2003. The tolls stifle commerce in the local area and act as another form of taxation on the motorist."

In addition to fighting the hike, the Messenger is calling for the tolls to be lifted more readily when the motorway is congested.

The Department for Transport is currently conducting a six-month trial where they lift the tolls when traffic reaches a 9.3 mile threshold in Kent and 11 mile threshold in Essex.

The Messenger believes the tailback threshold is too long.

The Messenger is also calling for Transport Secretary Philip Hammond to scrap all future toll increases and to extend the local residents' discount scheme to include Gravesham.

To sign the petition visit www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/axethetax