The organisation claims that the tolls act as a barrier against trade and their removal would stimulate the local economy.

The FSB's regional representatives put their case to the Yorkshire Minister, Rosie Winteron, at a meeting in Leeds last week.

Tony Cherry, the FSB Yorkshire and Humber policy chairman, said: "The Minister told us she was there as a facilitator for the regional economy.

"She listened carefully about our campaign for Humber Bridge tolls to be abolished and said that, if we prepared a document on our business case for this, she will consider its contents."

Dick Herzberg, who chairs the FSB Lincolnshire Policy Committee, also attended the meeting. He said: "The Humber Bridge tolls, which are the highest in the country, act as a barrier between trade on either side of the estuary, add to congestion and pollution and hinder economic growth.

"If the toll were abolished, local businesses would be more inclined to cross from Hull to Grimsby and Cleethorpes and vice versa, and this would stimulate trade. It would also make the north side of the estuary a viable base for businesses wishing to use Immingham Docks."

Mr Herzberg is chief executive of Euro Plant Supplies, based at Crowle, North Lincolnshire, which exports heavy earth-moving equipment worldwide.

He said: "Our business has to ship all our heavy equipment out of Tilbury Docks rather than pay the excessive costs to use the Humber Bridge for our transport trailers which need special permission to cross and are subject to charges calculated on their size and weight.

"We welcome Rose Winterton's interest and we hope that this may lead to our call being considered at government level."

The Yorkshire and Humber branch of the FSB has 16,500 member businesses ranging from sole traders to manufacturing companies with up to 200 employees.

It has been campaigning for Humber Bridge tolls to be scrapped after conducting surveys following the Scottish Executive's abolition of tolls on the Forth and Tay Bridges.