Tolls have been in place since the bridge was built over 30 years ago

More than 1,000 people have signed the campaign to end the 75p charge for cars and �1.50 for larger vehicles.

Organiser Andrew Lye from Haverfordwest claims they are 'a stealth tax' and MP Nick Ainger has backed the petition.

Pembrokeshire Council said it cost �600,000 a year more than income from tolls to maintain the road bridge.

It spans the Cleddau estuary and is the main link for traffic travelling between Pembroke Dock and Milford Haven.

Mr Lye said: "The bridge was built over 30 years ago and it is high time that it is transferred to the ownership of the Welsh assembly and tolls scrapped.

It's a huge drain on our resources Coun Jamie Adams

"Paying to travel on the highway within Pembrokeshire is an anachronism and morally wrong.

"It is an unfair burden - a stealth tax - on Pembrokeshire residents, businesses and visitors."

Mr Ainger said he first raised the issue of scrapping the tolls at Westminster in 1994.

He said it should be taken over by the assembly government and turned into a trunk road.

"The county council really does now need to make a move on this," said the MP.

"The view of a lot of people is that it is an unfair tax on the local economy, local residents and visitors."

Jamie Adams, the council's cabinet member for transport and highways, said he would welcome the assembly government taking over the running of the bridge but doubted it would be keen to do so.

"We have put a great deal of effort into maintaining the bridge and have spent around �5m in the last three to four years - it's a huge drain on our resources," he said.