THURROCK'S commuters will be the hardest hit in the country when new train fares are introduced next month, according to one user group.

Thurrock Rail Users' Group (TRUG) have said that the increase in fares for the borough's residents far exceeds the national average and, according to their research, is the highest price hike in the whole country.

Pauline Cridland of TRUG said: "This is another case of Thurrock being discriminated. These increases are far greater than the national increase of 4 per cent. In some cases commuters will be paying three times the rate of inflation."

Commuters travelling from Tilbury Town, Grays, Chafford Hundred, Ockendon and Purfleet will be most affected by the increases, with people looking to renew an all-zones travelcard into London having to spend 8.8 per cent more on their ticket than they did last year.

Those travelling from these stations to Fenchurch Street only face an eight per cent rise.

People travelling from Stanford-le-Hope and East Tilbury are less affected but will still have to pay over the national average.

Commuters who use these stations as their base will have to pay five per cent more for an all-zones travelcard and 2.2 per cent more for travelling to and from Fenchurch Street.

Mrs Cridland said: "c2c have said they lost passengers last year which has led to an increase, but it's clear that people they are going to lose more now as people have to find alternative means of travel.

"TRUG will campaign hard against these rises, we have informed the local MPs, who have expressed their own concerns at these changes."

A c2c spokesperson said: "The reason these changes have happened is that we are trying to make a proportional increase across the whole route. These increases will ensure that prices are balanced throughout the route."

The fare increases will operate from January 1 next year.