A regional publisher has launched a drive across its titles to highlight the increasing financial pressures faced by commuters.

The KM Group has started its ‘Commuters’ Charter’ drive, with its newspapers, websites and radio stations all involved in providing a voice for those affected by increases in travel costs and poor service.

It aims to produce a ‘dossier of discontent’ as part of the campaign which will then be presented to the government and Kent County Council.

Kent’s 17 MPs are being called on to back it and readers are being encouraged to tell their stories about the high price of fuel, problems with rail travel and concerns about an upcoming toll increase at the Dartford Crossing.

And the campaign has already received the backing of Rochester MP Mark Reckless who was stranded at his local train station when Medway Messenger reporter Alan Watkins contacted him about it.

Campaign co-ordinator Matt Ramsden, editor of Sheerness Times Guardian and Sittingbourne Messenger, said: “In daily contact with people across the county, we’re being told of the stresses individuals, families and businesses are under.

“Our readers are happy to work hard, travel far and play by the rules, but there is a growing sense of anger.

“People just want a ‘fair go’, but they feel punished and penalised by high fuel costs and problems with their train service.

“We aim to highlight their plight and stick up for the hard-pressed commuters of Kent.”

The group is harnessing social media by using Facebook and Twitter as part of the campaign and it hopes readers will be able to share useful information with each other, such as the cheapest petrol stations.