A petition has been started to protest against the planned increase to the Dart Charge for using the Dartford Crossing.

On Monday, it was announced people in Dartford and Essex who regularly use the crossing will have to pay 20 per cent more for each journey across the Thames.

Account holders pay £1.67 per journey currently, but they will have to shell out £2 per journey from October.

Motorists in Dartford have objected to the plans, claiming there was "no point" in having an account.

Dartford Council leader Jeremy Kite told News Shopper he thought Highways England was "arrogant" in its decision, which was made without consulting Dartford residents.

Now, a north Kent resident has taken a stand and started a petition to object to the decision - and abolish the Dart Charge altogether

Jayne Phillips, from Rochester, started the online petition on 38 Degrees after she heard the news.

Less than two days later, the petition has almost 300 signatures.

The aim of the petition is to protest against the "exorbitant charges" and price increases put onto drivers.

Speaking to News Shopper, Mrs Phillips said she was "really angry" when she heard about the plans to increase prices for regular users.

"Every time I try and use the crossing there are terrible queues," she said.

After reading angry comments from motorists on Facebook, Mrs Phillips thought she would set the petition up to gather support.

"What has angered me the most is I know there needs to be maintenance of the area, but I can't see the money collected being used for that," she added.

Mrs Phillips hopes the petition will gain enough support so she can take it to the government to ask them to reconsider the Dart Charge.

"I've never done anything like this before, but if I didn't do it, who else would have?"