VALE of Glamorgan MP and Welsh secretary Alun Cairns has announced this morning (April 5) that the second Severn crossing will be renamed 'The Prince of Wales Bridge'.

The Vale MP confirmed the moniker was intended to mark the 60th anniversary of Prince Charles being given the title.

The move has received a mixed response however, with some describing its perceived Anglicisation as being "patronising" to Welsh people.

Others have also suggested the move was unnecessary and have questioned the motives behind the decision.

A petition opposing the new name has been started online, and has already gained several-thousand signatories.

In a statement this morning, Mr Cairns said: "I’m delighted to announce that – with the agreement of the Prime Minister and Her Majesty The Queen – the Second Severn Crossing will be renamed the Prince of Wales Bridge.

“The announcement is a fitting tribute to His Royal Highness in a year that sees him mark 60 years as The Prince of Wales and decades of continued, dedicated service to our nation.

“We look forward to marking the occasion at a special event later this year when the new Prince of Wales Bridge and its sister bridge will be seen as positive symbols of a newly invigorated economic and social partnership between south Wales and south west England, and the strength of the United Kingdom.”

Politicians were among those to criticise the move, with Vale of Glamorgan's Labour councillor Lis Burnett saying the name change "reinforces a patronising attitude to Wales."

Plaid Cymru councillor Nic Hodges described the decision as "cringing nonsense," while South Wales Central AM Neil McEvoy Tweeted that he had already written to the Welsh secretary demanding the idea be scrapped in favour of a public consultation.

Mr Cairns later added that he was not surprised at some of the negative responses, but felt confident "the silent majority" would be pleased with the decision.

The announcement comes in the year that the tolls to use the Severn Crossings will be abolished by the UK Government.

To view the petition, visit change.org/p/alun-cairns-mp-stop-the-renaming-of-the-severn-bridge-to-the-prince-of-wales-bridge