First class seats on busy commuter trains in Kent could be scrapped after a government minister pledged to remove them.

Transport secretary Chris Grayling says passengers should not be forced to stand in overcrowded carriages while first-class compartments remain half-empty.

It means the first class seats on Southeastern trains, which offer passengers more leg room, could be removed at peak times.

Mr Grayling told the Daily Telegraph: "I absolutely understand what a total pain it is if you are standing on a train for 20-30 minutes on the way to work.

"I don’t really see a case for a non-longer-distance journey for there to be any division between first and second class. There should just be one class on the train.

"We have got rid of it on some of the trains in south-east London as part of the new franchise.

"People will see less first class in the future as we start to say that on busy suburban trains you can’t start segregating."

First class compartments are not available on Southeastern's high speed service.