TAXI fares in the New Forest are set to rise by as much as ten per cent.

District councillors are meeting today to discuss an application from the New Forest Taxi Association, which is citing a sharp increase in the cost of motoring.

Members of the general purposes and licensing committee will be presented with three main options.

They can either vote for no increase in the tariff, a rise of five per cent or a hike of ten per cent.

A report to councillors says many taxi fares in the Forest are above the national average, with customers paying £3.60 for a one-mile journey and £5.80 for a two-mile trip.

Any increase approved by the committee will have to be advertised – and any objections will need to be debated at a future meeting.

The previous increase was granted in September 2010 and implemented two months later.