A proposal to increase the cost of transporting elderly and vulnerable around towns has been slammed.

Watford councillor Ian Stotesbury says a proposed hike on fares on the Dial-a-Ride bus service by Hertfordshire County Council is "outrageous".

The Tory run county council says an "affordable service will not change", but is consulting with users about the idea of raising fares by around 10 per cent.

Watford has the highest usage rates of the door-to-door service, with more than 3,000 journeys made in the town in 2018-19.

Cllr Stotesbury, who is standing as the Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate in Watford, said: "This price hike is outrageous.

"Many people rely on Dial a Ride to get out and about and pricing them out of using this service could massively affect their independence. Since 2009, local councils have seen massive reductions in their funding from central government. The Liberal Democrats want to invest in our councils so they can fund the services that really matter to vulnerable people."

Iain MacBeath, director of adult care and health at Hertfordshire County Council, said: "We know how vital this service is for people in the community who use it and so we want to ensure that the service can continue to run.

"Currently, Dial-a-Ride is significantly subsidised by Hertfordshire County Council to offer an affordable service. This will not change, however we are seeking user’s views on an increase per journey to bring fares closer in line with the cost of running the service.

“To ensure that Dial-a-Ride can continue to offer services and a value for money option compared to other operators, we are also proposing to adopt a similar approach to commercial transport and regularly review the costs and fares of this service.

"The consultation will remain open until 31 December and we’d welcome your feedback on how these changes might affect you."

Click here to share your views on the Dial-a-Ride service.