More fuel price rises have sparked anger from a Bristol-based haulage company.

Ian Baxter is managing director of Stoke Gifford firm RH Freight, an independent, privately-owned business, with more than 650 staff operating out of 19 UK locations.

The firm has a fleet of 300 lorries operating across the country.

He claims the Chancellor's decision to increase fuel duty by 2p per litre in September, and then by 1p a litre above the rate of inflation each April until 2013, is another blow to a transport industry still reeling from the increases enforced at the beginning of this month.

He said: "Each 2p rise in fuel duty costs us around an additional £100,000 per year in fuel costs, which we have to absorb or pass on. Passing on these costs ultimately impacts on the consumer as rising transport costs result in higher prices on the shop shelves.

"The services that we provide are an essential part of the British economy but increases like this squeeze our margins further and could have a devastating impact on the smaller haulage operators.

"Once again, the Government insists on imposing additional penalties on our industry in already difficult circumstances."