MOTORISTS are being asked to urge Prime Minister Gordon Brown to scrap the Mersey Tunnel tolls - just like crossing charges have been scrapped in his native Scotland.

But Wirral drivers wanting to add their support to a 16,000 name petition lodged on the Number 10 Downing Street website have just two weeks left to do so.

The Mersey Tunnel Users Association has highlighted the decision by the Scottish parliament to scrap charges for the bridge crossings on the Clyde and to Skye.

And a further two tolls north of the border - on the Forth and Tay - are due to be scrapped early in the New Year.

John McGoldrick, secretary of the organisation, told the Globe: "When the MTUA formed in 2003 there were four river crossing tolls in Scotland.

"Two have gone, and the last two are expected to be removed in January by the Abolition of Bridge Tolls (Scotland) Bill which is making its way through Holyrood.

"It can also be compared with what is happening with the Humber Bridge," he said.

"All the local councils in the area - North Lincolnshire, North East Lincolnshire, Hull and East Riding - are now actively supporting the removal of tolls and have agreed to sponsor a study in the hope that tolls will be removed.

"This contrasts with what is happening on Merseyside and particularly Wirral, where the local councillors seem to be quite happy with the tolls regime."

Last year, the Globe revealed how Merseytravel was planning to use Mersey Tunnel tolls "surplus" to controversially help fund the ill-fated Merseytram scheme, which would provide trams between Liverpool City Centre and Knowsley.

Thousands of readers backed a Globe campaign against the scheme, which was eventually scrapped because of rising costs.

But Mr McGoldrick said: "It seems the tram plan isn't quite dead in the water yet and we're obviously concerned about any possible return to the idea of Wirral motorists funding a tram system they're unlikely to use.

"It seems especially unfair that Wirral motorists should be asked to pay up while their Scottish counterparts will be free to travel without the financial hindrance of tolls."

Conservative councillor Leah Fraser, who was last week confirmed as the Tories' candidate to fight the Wallasey constituency in the next general election, said: "This is yet another consequence of the Government's devolution of power to Scotland.

"Why should taxpayers in Wirral subsidise the abolition of tolls in Scotland yet still have to pay tolls to use the Mersey Tunnels?"

To sign the petition, visit http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/notolls/.

If you are interested in joining the tunnel users' association, visit their website at tunnelusers.org.uk or call Mr McGoldrick on 678 5706.