AROUND 10,000 journeys over the Mersey Gateway bridge have been paid for via a new app in only the first few months of it going live.

Merseyflow’s app, which is available for both Apple and Android phones, has also been downloaded by more than 13,000 people since it was launched in November.

That means it is now being used to pay more tolls than the Merseyflow call centre and Payzone systems combined.

The app is designed for use by occasional bridge users and sends notifications, text messages or emails to customers if they have insufficient credit in their accounts after crossing.

Merseyflow chief executive Neil Conway said: “Our analysis of the data so far shows that around 40 per cent of the customers who pay using the app have previously received a penalty charge notice – the reminder functionality within the app will advise them shortly after crossing that they have used the bridge but have no credit.

“This gives them time to make payment and avoid receiving a PCN.

“I’m obviously delighted to see that the new app is proving so popular for occasional users of the bridge.

“The app is in its first phase at the moment, and we are already developing new features to make both the app and the Merseyflow website even easier for people to use during 2020.”

Merseyflow says that the number of fines issued for bridge crossings have dropped 27.8 per cent year on year in the period between October and December 2019, meaning 56,000 fewer penalties were issued to motorists.

And 98 per cent of payments are now being made on time.

Newly released figures also showed that journey numbers were up by 1.6 per cent during that period, while October last year set a record for crossings in a month – with 2.16million.