THEY say size doesn’t matter – but try telling to that to this Southampton couple.

For years Derek and Jill Popplestone have crossed the Itchen Bridge in their motorhome without a second thought, paying the same 50p charge as other private vehicle owners.

But the pensioners now face paying a whopping £25 every time they pass through the new automated barriers, because the sensors automatically set charges based on a vehicle’s height.

Derek, 67, told the Daily Echo that he has so far been allowed to pay the usual 50p fee, after complaining to booth attendants on the Itchen Bridge.

But toll collectors have warned the couple they will have no choice but to pay the inflated fee from January, once the system becomes fully automatic.

Grandfather-of-three Derek, who has owned his 9ft high Autoquest 200 motorhome for seven years, has now pleaded with transport chiefs to re-think the height boundaries.

The current tariff would force him to pay more than drivers of Transit vans and the same amount as juggernauts and heavy goods vehicles.

Derek, who lives with Jill, 65, in Parry Road, Sholing, said: “It’s crazy. This has happened to us on a number of occasions, using different booths, so it’s not a fault.

This is the way it’s been set up by the council.

“Every time we try to cross, it comes up £25 on the screen. It was just pure amusement at first. I just thought ‘you are having a laugh.’ “No one moans at a bit of an increase, but that’s ridiculous. We can’t be the only ones this is happening to. The council needs to put it right.”

Southampton City Council’s transport boss, Cllr Asa Thorpe, was on holiday and unavailable for comment.