HIGHWAY bosses have had to call in a European debt recovery agency to chase nearly 19,000 overseas drivers who failed to pay during the first month of the Dartford Crossing’s new payment scheme.

In total, 18,716 overseas cases are part of 130,306 vehicles not to have paid during December last year.

Concerns have been raised in recent months over how foreign drivers would be chased, but the Highways Agency has said they hope the numbers prove how serious they are in chasing rouge vehicles.

A spokesman for Highways said: “We know that it’s an issue that people care about, and it’s very important to the reputation and credibility of the scheme that we are seen to be serious about enforcing the scheme overseas as well as at home.

“We hope these numbers show that we are taking it seriously.”

Highways say more than 90 percent of the journeys at the crossing during December have now been paid, and over half of the penalty notices issues have been settled.

Commenting on chasing foreign drivers, RAC Foundation director Professor Stephen Glaister said: "There are a significant number of foreign drivers trying to avoid the charge. It will be interesting to see what success rate the debt collection agency achieves chasing hauliers and motorists once they leave these shores.

"And once again, it begs the question: why can't people be made to pay at the ports before they depart the UK?"

The Dart Charge works similarly to the London Congestion Charge where number plates are automatically read by cameras.

Payment is no longer taken at the barriers – they have been removed altogether as part of a new road layout due for completion later this year. Instead drivers pay online, by phone or at one of thousands of payzone retail outlets, either in advance or by midnight the day after they have used the crossing.