COMPANY managing director Simon Marfell covers around 35,000 miles a year by car visiting clients.

Mr Marfell said something should be done to freeze the price of petrol, which is due to rise to £1.45p a litre by August with diesel going up to £1.50 a litre.

The West Compton resident used to have his own delivery van and driver for his company Stag Office Products but had to switch to a national courier because of the cost of fuel.

He said: “It’s really hitting my business hard as well as many other local businesses.

“It’s really tough when you need to be out visiting clients – I can only see the cost of the courier going up.

“I will have to plan my journeys a lot more and work out a travel plan and I may be able to encourage some customers to use Skype and live videos.”