REPORTS that membership prices for the Friends of Kew Gardens are set to increase were strongly denied this week.

Kew Gardens said there is no question of a rise in the Friends subscription rate following claims by a member that she was asked by a market research agency if she would renew her membership if the prices reached £95.

Marianne Malonne of Lower Mortlake Road, Richmond, said: "The interview was lengthy and detailed but my answer when told that membership prices at Kew Gardens could reach £95 a year was that I categorically would not renew my membership.

"The entry price when I moved to Richmond 18 years ago was 10p. Now it's £10, which is outrageous."

Friends currently pay between £28 and £70 each year depending on what type of membership they choose, giving access to the gardens, a quarterly magazine and other benefits.

A spokesperson for Kew Gardens said: "Our market research team ask a lot of questions, and your correspondent has leapt to the wrong conclusion.

"We review our admission fee to the gardens for non-members on an annual basis. Visitors can expect to see increases in ticket prices as we seek to bridge the gap between our Government grant and the actual cost of maintaining the gardens and all our research activities.

"Unlike other visitor attractions we admit children up to the age of 17 free, making Kew Gardens excellent value for money for family visits."

Ms Malonne added: "We used to see large families enjoying walks and picnics on the grounds.

"This is not the case anymore and it is a shame that Kew Gardens have become a privileged ground for the well-off or tourists who don't know the entry fee until they get to the gate."