Bus company Arriva has announced it is putting up all bus fares in Kent and Medway from tomorrow, Sunday.

All single and return fares will go up by a flat rate of 6%. Children's fares will rise by the same proportion to stay at 50% of the adult fare.

There will be corresponding increases in weekly and season tickets.

An adult day ticket in Medway will now be £6.10, in Maidstone £6, in Gravesend £5.90 and in Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells £5.80.

Day tickets in Swale will rise to £5.10 and in Dartford to £5.20.

A weekly adult bus pass will now be £23.50 in Medway, £22.50 in Maidstone, £23 in Gravesend and £20.50 in Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells.

A weekly adult bus pass in Swale will be £19 and in Dartford also £19.

The adult single Twilight fare, available on buses after 7pm will be £1.70.

Arriva said the increase were necessary to counter rising costs. The annual rate of inflation is currently reckoned to be 9%.

Cllr Barry Lewis, the Labour Party's shadow spokesman on transport at KCC said: "This is another disastrous piece of news for the people of Kent.

"As the mega-rich quaff their bottles of Champagne at Royal Ascot, ordinary people will be left wondering how they can afford to get the bus to work or school.

"Bus companies are only interested in their profits and never in the effect on their passengers."

Cllr Lewis, who represents the Margate ward, said: "The only solution would be the foundation of a Transport For Kent project similar to Transport For London, which could put customers and the provision of cheap and reliable services in Kent at the forefront."