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Passengers using London's transport network today are facing up to an increase in fares.

The average price has risen by 5.6% with Tube, bus, London Overground, Docklands Light Railway, boats and Tram services affected.

The cost of a single ticket on London Underground from zone one to two will rise 8% - from £2.50 to £2.70.

Transport for London (TfL) said the rise was to ensure transport upgrades and frontline services were protected.

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said the increase would have been greater without £136m of extra government money.

TfL said the investment programme which the increased fares fund, includes upgrades to the Tube and the delivery of Crossrail - the east-west rail line.

Ken Livingstone, Labour's mayoral candidate, has criticised the fare increase as unnecessary.

He said: "With some vision and hard work this fare rise could have been avoided."

And Jenny Jones, who will run for the Green Party in May's election, said the mayor was "hurting everyone, but mostly the low-paid who already struggle to pay the high cost of public transport to get to work".