A haulage firm boss is appealing to motorists to sign a petition to get a better deal on fuel pump prices.

Mike Presneill, who is the managing director of Sheerness firm Presneill Tipper Contractors, is backing the FairFuelUK campaign.

It is calling on the government to scrap the 4p fuel duty increases scheduled for January and August next year and create a price stabilisation method that smooths out fluctuations in the pump price.

Campaigners also want pressure put on big oil companies to pass on cheaper oil to motorists and set up a commission to look at market competitiveness and new ways of cutting fuel taxes long term.

The group needs 100,000 signatures on the government’s e-petitions site for the issue to be eligible for debate in the House of Commons.

Since going live eight weeks ago, more than 89,700 people have signed it.

The 64-year-old, who has 16 vehicles in his fleet, said: “We need to get the government to address the issue of fuel prices and fuel duty because we have the highest fuel costs in the world.

“It’s having a crippling effect on the industry and a crippling effect on everyday motorists. At the moment a litre of fuel costs about 1.37p so to fill up one of my trucks costs over £450 a day.

“There are businesses going to the wall every week – it’s a real bad time in the industry.

“If we benefit from getting the prices down, then so will the public.”

The campaign is supported by the RAC, Freight Transport Association and Road Haulage Association and is now working in partnership with the House of Commons all-party working group led by MP Robert Halfon.

TV presenter and motoring expert Quentin Willson is the lead spokesman for the group.

Campaign founder Peter Carroll said: “The petition is for everyone to sign, van drivers, lorry drivers, taxi drivers.

“We have to have this debate because at the moment the politicians aren’t talking about fuel and it’s filling the petrol tank that’s really hurting people.”

For more information on FairFuelUk visit its website.