Halton residents are being urged to renew their annual Local User Discount Scheme (LUDS) plans.

This is for those who have not yet signed up for Merseyflow's auto-renew and Direct Debit system.

An active LUDS plan will help eligible Halton residents benefit from discounted crossings on the Mersey Gateway and Silver Jubilee bridges.

Typically, the renewal period peaks in October, aligning with the Mersey Gateway Bridge's anniversary.

Last year, over 20,000 residents switched to the auto-renewal scheme, which 'simplifies the renewal process significantly'.

To switch to auto-renew, eligible residents need to log into their Merseyflow account, set up Direct Debit as their preferred payment method for the annual £10 fee, and tick auto-renew for their LUDS vehicle.

By choosing to auto-renew, these customers won’t need to upload their council tax, V5C, and driving licence documents every year, unless they move house, change their vehicle, or bank account.

Paying by Direct Debit means they will also not need to update their payment card details when it expires.

For residents who prefer to update their LUDS plans manually, the quickest way to do this is by using the Merseyflow website.

Alternatively, customers can call the customer service team on 01928 878 878 or visit the Merseyflow Walk-In Centre in Howard Court, Runcorn.

This is available for those without internet access.

Any customers who don’t renew each year will lose their discount pass and will then receive a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) for any unpaid crossings.

All renewals will take effect from the expiry date of the existing pass, so no one will lose out by renewing early.

Neil Conway, chief executive of Merseyflow, said: "Over the past year we have seen a great response to our new auto-renewal process for Halton residents.

"It’s much simpler and easier for residents who qualify for a LUDS plan to set up and renew their accounts this way and we know that this is the time of year when a lot of local residents are renewing their annual Merseyflow plan, so now is the time to make the switch."

Eligible Halton residents must renew their LUDS plan every 12 months to ensure their details are correct and they continue to qualify for the scheme.

The LUDS plan is intended solely for personal travel and cannot be used for business-related trips.