MOTORISTS began crossing Scotland's road bridges for free today.

MOTORISTS began crossing Scotland's road bridges for free today.

Fees were scrapped on the Forth and Tay bridges at one minute past midnight.

Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson signed the order last month, marking the end to more than 40 years of fees for people in Fife, Tayside and the Lothians.

Car drivers had been paying £1 on the Forth bridge and 80p on the Tay. Supporters say scrapping the tolls will ease traffic congestion - but environmentalists claim pollution levels will rise.

The new legislation was among the first brought by the new SNP administration.

A spokesman for the National Alliance Against Tolls said: "It's been a long fight to remove the tolls and we're delighted Scotland will again be a toll-free nation.

"This will not only be a boost for the immediate area of the tolls, it will also enable Scotland to attract more inward investment and tourists."

Tolls on the Skye Bridge were abolished in 2004 and on the Erskine Bridge in 2006.

More than 22million vehicles cross the Forth Bridge each year, making it one of the busiest estuarial crossings in the UK.

The Forth Estuary Transport Authority and Tay Road Bridge Joint Board will remain responsible for managing the bridges and will receive money direct from the Scottish Government.

The Tay board is also getting a one-off grant of £14.8m to allow it to repay outstanding loans.

Environmental group WWF Scotland said the scrapping of the tolls would add to the global problem of climate change through an increase in traffic levels.