Price hike takes its toll on M6

Heavy traffic swells the queues at the M6 Toll booths.

A price rise for vehicles using the M6 Toll road led to chaos at the northbound booths on Friday evening.

The operators said people were arriving without the correct money after the price change, and there was heavy traffic across the region generally.

There was heavy congestion on the M6, and large numbers of people using the M6 Toll to get to the 'V' Festival at Weston Park, Staffordshire.

Friday evening is always the busiest time on the northbound routes.

"Be patient"

Tom Fanning, managing director of Midland Expressway Limited, said: "Friday evening is always busy and, despite widespread publicity, some people were unaware of the price changes which came into effect on Monday.

"We have all 10 lanes open at Great Wyrley, and at Weeford Park, and ushers in the lanes to offer help and change where needed.

"We would ask people to be patient and we are dealing with the queues as quickly as possible.

"Customers are tending to use the centre lanes when it would help if more use was made of the outer ones, providing that is appropriate for their method of payment."