Opening of Severn Bridge remembered 60 years on

For many people living near the Severn Estuary, jumping in the car and crossing the border between England and Wales is just part of their everyday commute.

But 60 years ago, after three-and-a-half years of construction at a cost of some £8m, this ordinary-seeming journey over the Severn Bridge was something to celebrate.

Enthusiastic motorists spent days queueing to use it, and on the day itself - 8 September 1966 - hundreds gathered to watch the Queen Elizabeth II officially open the bridge to the public.

Chris Witts, a River Severn historian witnessed several fatalities on the water prior to the bridge's opening, and said many people now "take it for granted" six decades on.

Barry Cheshire from Cardiff spoke to the BBC from his car in 1966, part of the way through his 87-hour wait.

When asked if he was bored, Cheshire said: "Not really, I brought plenty of my own entertainment; books, magazines, the wireless, and plenty of food and drink."

In another car, a couple waited overnight on the way back from their honeymoon.

Witts said the day the Severn Bridge opened was "a happy day and also a very sad day" as it marked the end of the Aust to Beachley ferry, which carried cars across the River Severn.

The author of several books on the River Severn, Witts said there was a chance residents living near the crossing "basically take it for granted" decades on from its opening.

"The beauty of it is that you can also walk across it and it doesn't take that long," he said.

"It makes a big difference... I find it very convenient and especially now they've removed the tolls. That was a really good blessing."

At the time the bridge opened, tolls were set to half a crown which - according to the Bank of England - is equivalent to 13p in today's money.

Tolls were also in place on the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge from its opening until December 2018, when both crossings became free to use.

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