Toll bridge policy broken as hearse is stopped and charged for crossing

A toll bridge owner has said that its policy has been broken after a hearse driver was stopped at the Warburton Toll Bridge during a funeral procession last Thursday and charged 12p.

It is common that toll bridges waive crossing fees for hearses and the rest of the cortege out of respect.

Peel Ports who run the toll bridge said: “We can confirm that it is our policy to waive the toll at Warburton Toll Bridge for funeral processions and we are currently investigating the incident concerned.”

A former funeral director in the area said she had experienced similar problems with the toll bridge, claiming that in her 12 years in the funeral profession both the hearse and mourners following had always been charged.

The bridge itself has been the subject of complaints from locals who say it causes congestion on surrounding roads.