TOLL booth barriers at the Dartford Crossing could be lifted at peak times, the Department for Transport has said.

It is also to ask the Highways Agency to look at whether new licence plate recognition technology could be used in a bid to ease traffic flow on the notorious stretch.

The Dartford Tunnel and Queen Elizabeth II bridge handle about 150,000 vehicles a day and campaigners say using the crossing should be made free as it has now paid for itself since opening. The crossing currently costs £1.50 for cars between 6am and 10pm.