The Forum of Private Business (FPB) is joining a campaign to force the government to abandon plans for a 2p rise in fuel duty from October.

The Freight Transport Association and other haulage bodies have been campaigning against the move, which comes at a time when oil has hit a record $146 a barrel.

"Small firms need help now, given the deteriorating economic climate, and the call for this unfair tax rise to be scrapped should be shouted from the rooftops," said the FPB's chief executive, Phil Orford.

The FPB argues the price of fuel is adding to supply and delivery costs for thousands of businesses and is hitting smaller couriers and haulage firms particularly hard.

One such company is William C Hockin Transport Ltd in Devon. "We are desperate and the government must realise that," said Bill Hockin from the company.

"This is the perfect storm, with foreign competition from European hauliers, who pay less tax than us in the UK, and rising fuel costs. If this situation continues, it will cripple us, if not ruin us."