A MONMOUTHSHIRE businessman has started a new fundraising scheme, dubbed Quids In, to recoup some of the axed Severn Bridge toll money to the direct benefit of the St David’s Hospice Care charity.

David Barnes, owner of Newport-based David Barnes Public Relations, said: “I’ve lived within sight of the Severn Bridge in Chepstow for 30 years. I dread to think just how much I have spent crossing the bridge during that time.

“I use the crossing regularly when I visit Bristol [and] I was thinking about the annual savings for me and others who use the bridges even more regularly.

"I decided to pop £1 of the savings from each trip into a pot and at the end of the year donate that to St David’s Hospice Care.

“That would have a real and direct benefit to the charity which cares from people throughout our community, so I started Quids In to encourage others to follow my lead.

“It’d be great if commuters and also hauliers, logistics firms and transport firms who are now saving literally thousands of pounds from travelling toll free across the Severn bridges, could really get behind this scheme and benefit St David’s Hospice Care.

"I’m hoping people on both sides of the bridges will support Quids In.

Beth Harrington, of St David’s Hospice Care, said: “What a brilliant idea. I really hope that this sparks a great deal of interest and the charity ends up Quids In at the end of our fortieth anniversary year as a result of this scheme.”

2019 marks the fortieth anniversary of the establishment of St David’s Hospice Care.

To obtain your free Quids In collection box, visit St David’s Hospice Care, Blackett Avenue, Malpas, or call Ms Harrington on 01633 851051.