Get the biggest stories sent straight to your inbox Sign up for regular updates and breaking news from WalesOnline Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Update 10.05am: The date will be December 17 it has now been revealed

The exact date when tolls on the Severn Bridges will be abolished is expected to be revealed by Secretary of State for Wales, Alun Cairns, later today.

Addressing the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham, Mr Cairns is likely to announce the precise timing for their removal, which will see motorway motorists for the first time in 50 years not having to pay tolls for crossing between Wales and England.

The Office of the Secretary of State for Wales declined to comment. However, sources have confirmed that their abolition date will definitely be in December.

Mr Cairns will deliver his speech to conference just after 10am.

The Vale of Glamorgan MP has been working for months across UK Government departments to finalise the removal of tolls, having first announced earlier this year that they were being abolished.

While by the end of 2018 has always been the aim, there was a possibility that the date could have slipped into 2019.

(Image: Rob Browne)

Some 25 million journeys are made across the two bridges annually. Those using them daily could save about £1,400 a year.

The bridges are currently operated by Severn River Crossing Plc, who will hand control over to Highways England.

The newer bridge was recently renamed the Prince of Wales Bridge.

The abolition of tolls is expected to see a significant rise in motorists using the M4 on both sides of the border. Mr Cairns is continuing to press the Welsh Government to make a decision on whether it will commit to a new M4 Relief Road south of Newport.

The findings of a public inquiry into the proposed new stretch of 14 miles of motorway, is now with Welsh Government civil servants, ahead of being submitted to cabinet ministers.

The cost of the motorway, excluding VAT, has been put at £1.3bn.

If the report backs the so called black route, subject to a six week window for any judicial review, First Minister Carwyn Jones could legally sign off on the project before he formally stands down at First Minister on December 11th.