CAR drivers using the Dartford Crossing will be hit with price hikes twice in the space of a few months.

Tolls for cars are due to go up from £1.50 to £2 this year, then up to £2.50 by next spring.

Roads minister Mike Penning made the announcement as he launched a consultation on exploring free-flow charging and additional crossing capacity on the Queen Elizabeth Bridge.

The Highways Agency will today start a six-month trial of suspending toll charges on the crossing in one or both directions when an emergency creates severe congestion.

However, motorists are still angry at the hike in tolls that will also see lorry drivers, currently charged £3.70, have to pay £6 fee by the spring.

Davy Worsfold, director of Freight Management in Tilbury, has between 25 and 30 haulage vehicles using the crossing every day.

He said: “This is another unnecessary burden on the haulage industry at a difficult time. It seems like everyone is out to get us at the minute.

“I think it’s disgusting it could be costing our lorries as much as £12 to drive into Kent and back.

“Unless we become like the French and go on strike over all transport issues, we will continue to be penalised.”

Launching the trial, Mr Penning said: “The crossing is a vital piece of transport infrastructure that has brought huge economic benefits and opportunities to the country.

“But the simple fact is many more motorists want to use the crossing than it was designed for and this leads to frequent lengthy delays, frustration and damage to the economy. Unless urgent action is taken, this situation will only get worse, with traffic expected to increase. That is unacceptable.

“It is clear that in the absence of the proposed increased revenues, we would not have been able to prioritise improvements which will benefit millions of road users. We are committed to introducing free-flow charging to reduce congestion and explore provision of new additional crossing capacity.”

The consultation will run until September 23.