Work to create a toll-free journey into Wales will start on Friday.

Both bridges over the River Severn will undergo changes to create a route that means drivers will no longer have to stop to pay the toll.

From 9am on Friday, December 14 three lanes at the toll will be closed on the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge to allow work to start, with the remaining lanes open as usual.

The M48 bridge will operate as usual.

At 8pm on Friday the Prince of Wales Bridge will be fully closed westbound and drivers will be diverted via the M48 bridge.

This same pattern will continue over the weekend with the bridge running with three lanes closed from 6am-8pm on Saturday and 6am-7pm on Sunday.

Overnight the bridge will be fully closed westbound and drivers will be diverted via the M48 bridge.

On Monday, December 17, the Prince of Wales Bridge will reopen with three narrow lanes with a 50mph speed limit.

Shortly afterwards the M48 bridge will be fully closed westbound, reopening on the morning of December 19 with two lanes.

Further work will be carried out in 2019 to return both routes to a three-lane motorway with the usual 70mph speed limit.

Hannah Milliner, general manager Severn Bridges, Highways England, said: “This is a significant piece of work which is far more complex than simply removing toll booths.

"We want to make sure that journeys can be completed safely and free of charge by the end of the year and will then focus on the next stage of work.”

For more information go to severnbridge.co.uk.