Sittingbourne's MP has assured motorists he is doing everything he can to put pressure on the government to introduce a fuel duty stabiliser.

As prices at the pump continue to rocket, Gordon Henderson said he had signed the two Early Day Motions which have been tabled and had passed on his constituents' concerns to Prime Minister David Cameron.

The motions are calling for the stabiliser, which would see fuel duty fall when oil prices rise and go back up when the price goes down.

It is hoped a stabiliser can be introduced before another planned fuel duty rise comes in April.

Mr Henderson said he had also written to Chancellor George Osborne and was supporting the national fair fuel campaign.

A top Sittingbourne haulier said the biggest problem firms faced was competition from European rivals. David Pink (pictured) is managing director of The Dodd's Group, based in Bonham Drive, on the Eurolink Commercial Park.

He said: "It's having a horrendous impact. Five years ago we employed 400 people, now we employ 90 people; 150 of those we lost were probably from Kent.

"The increase in duty by the government is only in the UK.

"Most European firms get a rebate on the fuel prices they pay and then they come here with full tanks of fuel - doing their collections and getting their loads - they can do it far cheaper than we can.

"They [the government] do it for farmers and bus and coaches in this country, but not haulage firms.

"We couldn't reduce any more - these are desperate times.

"There's another increase coming on April 1, by 4p or 5p and we're saying it can't happen; it's just ridiculous. I don't think people realise that everything you eat, wear and see is transported, and it's the cheaper things that end up costing more.

"Take a bottle of water.

"The water has to be transported, the bottle has been transported, it's probably been transported about three times [before it goes on the shelf]. It affects everything.

"Our chairman was due to go to Westminster on Tuesday to hand in a petition.

"What they should be doing is reducing the duty on it and upping the VAT because we can claim back the VAT.

"We've not had a wage increase here for three years. We did reduce wages but not the drivers.

"We spend £250,000 a month on fuel, so that's £3m a year. Probably more than £2m is taxed so if we shut down that comes out [of the economy]. We're paying high amounts of tax."

Visit www.fairfueluk.com to sign the petition.