The cost of bus and train travel has outstripped the price of motoring since Labour came to power.

While the Government considers pay-as-you-drive road tolls to persuade people to curb their car use, the latest statistics show that the prices passengers face have risen far faster than those absorbed by motorists.

According to the Office for National Statistics bus fares have risen by 52.9% over the past 10 years, while figures fro the Office of Rail Regulation show train fares rose by 46.2% between January 1998 and the start of 2007.

The AA says the driver of a small family car has seen their motoring bill rise from 41.52 pence per mile in 1997 to 56.15 pence in 2005 – 26%.