A toll bridge on a busy commuter route from West Oxfordshire into Oxford city reopens this morning.

Toll collection resumed at 10am today after being suspended for more than a year during the pandemic.

However, those who are crossing will only be charged between the hours of 10am and 2pm.

Local residents have claimed the bridge causes traffic jams and pollution and there have been several campaigns over the years to make the bridge toll-free.

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One campaign called on Oxfordshire County Council to buy the bridge - however, the council said they did not have enough funds for it.

An online poll in 2006 on the Witney Gazette website showed that 87.5% of voters want the toll scrapped.

Motorists pay 5p per car, and up to 50p per lorry, to cross the bridge, a Grade II-listed structure.

When a Witney Spotted Facebook user shared a picture of a notice advertising for kiosk staff last December some locals said it was "the worst news ever".

They said traffic flow was much improved when the toll collection was suspended for safety reasons during the pandemic.

Mandy Vanstone commented: "Oh dear lord …. Back to a 1:20 minute commute for a 15 mile journey to Abingdon! I haven’t missed the queues one bit."

Terri Pearce added: "I'm not paying .. it has been heaven without the huge holdups this stupid bridge causes #boycotteynshamtollbridge"

"Bloody traffic jam queues for miles! Stay closed, I can actually get across the bridge in under two mins, when you're open I have to leave for work the day before," posted Andy Ellis.

Some said instead of hiring a toll collector the bridge owners should get an number plate recognition system or "put a bucket out each side and let people chuck the money in, it will cause a lot less traffic."

The bridge was sold at auction for £1 million in 2009 along with a nearby cottage, a car park and more than four acres of land.