Shropshire hauliers hit by crippling bills as cost of fuel soars

Rising diesel costs are crippling haulage firms across Shropshire with some having to shell out hundreds of thousands of pounds extra to pay their annual fuel bill.

Hauliers are digging deep to find the extra cash with fuel last week hitting a new high of 142.48p for petrol and 147.88p for diesel.

And despite pressure from hard-pressed motorists and businesses that rely on fuel there will still be a 3.02p per litre hike in fuel duty from August.

Telford-based firm A J Maiden & Son Ltd has seen its fuel bill rise by more than £700,000 in the past two years. In 2010, the company's total fuel spend was £2.52 million but this is expected to reach £3.25 million by the end of this year.

The family-run firm, in Donnington Wood, which is celebrating its 80th year in business, has 60 vehicles that travel an average of five million miles every year.

Managing director John Maiden said he had seen diesel rise from 75.9p per litre in 2006 to an average of 117.37p before VAT this month. He said: "The industry is in serious need of a cap on fuel prices or an essential user rebate scheme in order to progress."

Bosses at Loosemores Transport Ltd based in Battlefield, Shrewsbury, said it was spending an extra £3,000 a week on fuel compared to last year.

And trucker Martin Edge, of Mereside European Express in Ellesmere, said rising fuel prices were costing him an extra £250-a-week on last year.