Hauliers from all over Kent have had their concerns about unfair competition from Europe and the rising price of fuel heard by top Tory Philip Hammond.

The Conservative shadow chief secretary to the treasury was given a tour of Coombe Valley Transport’s Dover depot and had a meeting with leading members of the local haulage industry.

He was invited down to the district by Conservative parliamentary candidate Charlie Elphicke.

Haulage industry representatives have voiced concerns about lorry tax discs, high safety standards and fuel duties that they say affect their businesses but not so much those from Europe.

They also said they are being crippled financially by the rising price of fuel.

Mr Hammond said: “The difference in fuel prices is giving foreign lorry hauliers an unfair competitive advantage effectively pricing British haulage firms off the road.

“Something has to be done or we will not have a UK haulage industry.

~For full story see this week's Dover Mercury, out on Thursday.