Mr Campbell believes the bridge makes enough money

The rise from 80p to �1 per crossing is designed to pay for maintenance and improvements in services.

But a public inquiry must be held even if only one person objects and a formal objection has been made by a Fife man.

There will now be a one-day hearing in November but the Forth Estuary Transport Authority (Feta) fears it could take months to settle the issue.

Feta had intended to introduce the increase in October, but must now wait until after the hearing.

Depute general manager Barry Colford told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme the authority needs the money.

The bridge is currently generating tolls of �9m plus per annum and now you have the effrontery to demand more George Campbell

He said: "The bridge is now 40 years old, we have had to replace key elements in the bridge and these key elements will have to be replaced in another 30 or 40 years as well.

"It's a cyclic programme, it takes money to do that, this is a national asset which needs looking after and it needs money to do that."

The complaint from Glenrothes man George Campbell forced the Scottish Executive to launch the inquiry, despite the fact he only uses the bridge a couple of times a month.

In his letter to the executive, dated 28 March, Mr Campbell said: "The bridge is currently generating tolls of �9m plus per annum and now you have the effrontery to demand more.

"I consider this outrageous and believe that my objections should be considered at any local inquiry."

Mr Colford said that Feta would put its case to the public inquiry and it would then be up to the reporter to make their decision.

The Forth Road Bridge was opened in September 1964, with tolling due to end in May 1995 but extensions were granted to finance major structural upgrading.