Forget the transport minister or the bosses of big haulage firms.

The most powerful man in road transport is none other than Folkestone's Peter Carroll, according to a poll.

The founder of the national FairFuelUK campaign and ex-district councillor has topped a survey by Commercial Motor magazine.

Mr Carroll, who lives at Peene and used to run a lorry firm, said: "I thought someone was winding me up when I heard.

"It is great that the campaign and the people who have worked so hard for it have been recognised in this way.

"It just shows what people power can do. And to think, it all started on a kitchen table in Kent.

"I don't get anything for coming top - just a lot of leg pulling."

The magazine says Mr Carroll is "the single most powerful individual in the transport industry".

It cites FairFuelUK's successes in getting planned fuel duty rises put off by the government.

Last year, the campaign secured a parliamentary debate on fuel prices after getting 110,000 names on an e-petition and was credited with the deferment of another planned hike in fuel tax in the autumn budget.

The magazine states: "By our reckoning, he's saved the industry the best part of £700 million in the past 11 months - and that is true power."

Mr Carroll said FairFuelUK was now going to put pressure on the government to look into the difference in petrol prices at garages in the same towns.

"We want to know who is making money and who is not making money," he said.

"The one thing that winds motorists up is when the oil price goes up, petrol goes up, but when oil goes down, petrol doesn't.

"We are also going to redouble our efforts to get the government to cut fuel duty - we need to get the economy moving."