Higher M6 Toll fees introduced now in force

It now costs £5.90 to travel along the pay-as-you-go motorway during the day - an increase of 40p.

The rise, the first to be introduced in five years which came in to effect today, does not apply to lorry or commercial traffic.

While the 'local toll' where motorists exit at certain junctions has been hiked to £4.40.

The new fees were announced last month just weeks after the 27-mile motorway was bought by Australian investment giant IFM.

It had been up for sale for nearly £2 billion.

Operator Midland Express Limited (MEL) justified the increases by saying they 'reflect a partial catch-up with inflation'.

A statement said: "Prices have been held constant over the past five years to help customers recover from the economic downturn and manage through several years of significant roadworks and disruption on the M6 during the Managed Motorway implementation."

South Staffordshire MP Gavin Williamson has criticised the decision arguing it will discourage motorists.