The department of trade and industry announced the increase effective this week of10p an hour to £4.20 for workers aged 22 and over. Workers aged 18-21 will also get a 10p increase to £3.60 an hour.

A four-week press campaign will publicise details of the new rates which have been touted as a 'great success story' by government.

'The government is committed to making work pay and the national minimum wageSis key to tackling poverty,' said Alan Johnson, employment relations minister. 'The work of the Low Pay Commission is a great example of a partnership approach where business, unions and other stakeholders sit down together to reach agreement on the right level for the minimum wage. They successfully strike a balance between benefiting the low paid, without putting any undue burdens on business.' The new rates came into force on October 1.