Kent train users are set to feel the strain as car parking fee hikes sweep the county.

We thought it was bad when Southeastern hiked up rail fares at the start of the year .

Now the train operator has decided to increase its daily car parking charges by up to 19 per cent from the end of this month.

It blames rising maintenance and security costs.

A Southeastern spokesman said: “We realise no increase will ever be popular, but car parking is not a cost-free activity. Land has to be leased from Network Rail at a commercial rate, power cabling is needed for ticket machines and sites fenced, well lit, marked out, made secure and regularly cleaned and maintained.”

The car park fee increases are between 10 and 19 per cent at most stations, with the highest charge at Ashford International, which has gone up by 19 per cent.

Adam Holloway Gravesham MP said the increase at Gravesend Station from 60p to £4.30 was not justified.

He said: "These charges are unacceptable in light of the recent above inflation commuter train ticket increases. What justification does the car park operator have for increasing the charges by 60p to £4.30?

"The long-suffering commuter is getting nothing out of this. The only people who benefit are the car parking companies. All this will do is push the hard-pressed commuter onto the surrounding roads which in turn will then extend double yellow lines and restricted parking."

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The full breakdown in increases in daily car park increases in Kent are as follows: