Parking signs at Darent Valley Hospital which would have seen a 200% increase in 24 hour stays have been removed after a row broke out at the level of increases.

Private firm VINCI Park say they need to charge visitors more to park at the hospital to fund an extra 107 spaces made available today.

New prices were due to kick in today with one hour stays rising to £1.50 from £1 - an extra 50% - and 24 hours from £5 to £15 - an increase of 200%.

The charges sparked anger among residents with Dartford's Ukip parliamentary candidate Elizabeth Jones describing the situation as a "joke".

But a hospital spokesman said the signs had been reviewed and that the charges were now under review.

He said: "The hospital has gained in popularity and we have seen a steady increase in the number of people using its services and subsequently, the demand for parking space has increased significantly.

"An extra 107 spaces will be available to the public from Monday (today).

"The extra spaces and car park developments have been funded entirely by VINCI Park.

"However, VINCI will need to recover their costs so car parking charges are under review at this time but have not been finalised."

The decision to increase parking was taken after talks with the hospital governors, patients and local authorities.

Ms Jones said she was delighted the charges had been temporarily suspended and said Ukip planned to scrap all hospital parking charges.

She said: "I am convinced that had we not raised the issue, the parking charges would have increased on today.

"As it is, I suspect that the 'suspension' will last until after the General Election in May, and I can only guess at the pressure which was brought to bear on Vinci Park in order to spare Tory and Labour blushes.

"Only UKIP has a policy to remove all hospital parking charges across the UK.

"Healthcare free at the point of delivery should not mean charging drivers through the nose to park before they even get in the hospital door."