Taxi fares in Ashford are to rise - but not as much as recommended by the council's officers.

After the borough council's licensing manager proposed a five per cent increase in charges plus a 10p rise in the starting rate charge, members of the licensing committee rejected the above-inflation price hike.

Although the proposals would still leave Ashford borough taxis the 11th least expensive of the 13 districts, members felt it did not take into account reducing fuel costs.

Now they have agreed a three per cent rise with no increase in starting charges from April 1.

Currently Ashford has 88 licensed hackney carriage drivers and 81 joint hackney and private hire drivers.