The most cost-effective London commuter towns in Kent have been revealed.

Those travelling into the capital from Ashford can expect to fork out £14,164 a year on season tickets, rent and hours spent commuting, based on an average hourly pay of £17.30.

The town is followed by Gillingham (£15,369) and Gravesend (£17,323) on the list of 30 key commuter towns in the south east.

At the other end of the spectrum, those commuting from Oxford can expect to pay £33,113, while locally the most expensive town is Maidstone (£19,511).

The figures were released as some commuters face up to paying an extra £310 a year for rail season tickets thanks to the recent 3.6% fare hike.

An accompanying survey found 10% of passengers never got a seat and 79% felt trapped into paying higher fees due to there being little alternative.

Kevin Pratt, consumer affairs expert at MoneySuperMarket which commissioned the research, said: “People who are time-poor may be happy to live in a costlier but closer commuter town, while those whose monthly outgoings are stretched might be happy to spend more time travelling if it saves money overall.”