The tolls have been controversial

Committee clerk Michael Henessey said there was nothing to prevent protesters taking other issues - or new evidence - back to the committee.

However, he said the committee's narrow remit meant it could not widen its inquiry beyond the orders put to them.

Robbie the Pict said he was disappointed the committee had only looked at how the orders governing the toll regime were printed and published, not whether it was legal.

He said the committee's deliberations were subject to judicial review, and that is a route campaigners may now take.

But he said, if the committee turns out to be a dead end for the campaign, there are still 15 other legal actions underway.

The campaigner said those opposed to the tolls would not be giving up their fight at this stage.

'Misconceived action'

Campaigners took their case through the Scottish courts, but lost their challenge in 1999.

Four protesters argued that the toll collectors' employers, Miller Civil Engineering, had no lawful authority to collect the money for crossing without the written consent of the secretary of state.

But three judges hearing their appeal in Edinburgh called their action "misconceived".

And even if consent was required, the judges said they were satisfied that this had been implied.

Robbie the Pict was among the four campaigners who had been convicted of not paying the tolls.