Hundreds of commuters that are refusing to pay for their train fares in protest at the terrible service they receive have been warned that they risk prosecution and face hefty fines.

Passengers in Bath, Somerset, this morning joined an unprecedented protest organised by More Trains Less Strain, a local campaign group, against what it says are cuts by First Great Western on train services.

The group says that timetable changes have led to trains becoming more overcrowded and delays more frequent, and is urging commuters to refuse to pay their fare and instead present First Great Western officials with an alternative "Fare Strike" ticket.

Tony Ambrose, the organiser of the protest, which started at 6am at Bath Spa, said 15 demonstrators had handed out more than 300 fake tickets to commuters by 8am, and estimated that more than 1,500 tickets could be taken by the end of rush-hour.

The strike tickets are intended for use by anyone travelling to Bristol, Keynsham or any other destinations in the South West - but some London commuters have also taken them, Mr Ambrose added.

Mr Ambrose revealed exclusively to The Times earlier this month that he would launch the action after being forced to take a journey standing in a toilet along with a number of other passengers because of severe overcrowding.

First Great Western, however, announced that the fare-dodgers taking part in the protest ran the same risk as any other travellers choosing not to buy a ticket.

Denying a claim by the demonstrators that ticket inspectors were not operating on trains in the strike area this morning, a spokesman said anyone caught without a ticket could face a fine or prosecution.

"People are, of course, entitled to protest. However, it should be noted that customers must always have a valid ticket to travel on First Great Western trains," he said.

"Those who do not risk prosecution, the maximum sentence being a fine of £1,000 or three months' imprisonment."

A company spokeswoman later added, however, that First Great Western would handle the protest "sensibly and sensitively".

But Mr Ambrose, speaking in the morning rush hour in Bath, said the protest had gone "fantastically" - and claimed it was driven by a persistently poor service.

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