Kent transport businesses have ridiculed the Government's decision to postpone fuel duty increases as "like wiping blood from a gaping wound".

Speaking as the average price of diesel hit 133 pence a litre, Chancellor Alastair Darling said the planned two pence increase in fuel duty this October would be postponed "to help motorists and businesses get through what is a difficult time for everyone".

This is the second postponement of the rise - it had been due to come into effect in March.

Peter Carroll, managing director of Larkfield-based haulage firm Seymour Transport, said: "This is like a patient going to accident and emergency with a gaping wound and all they do is wipe the blood off. It is nowhere near enough.

"We are paying 25 pence per litre of diesel more than continental hauliers heading up the M20, because the duty is lower on the continent. That cannot be fair."

Mr Carroll, who employs 81 people and runs 52 lorries, has seen his fuel bill rise by £50,000 a month since October last year.

Paul Leach, partner at removals firm SW Leach and Sons, in Aylesford, is fighting the full force of the credit crunch, as a drop in house moves combines with steadily rising fuel prices.

His firm, which employs seven, would normally run ten or 12 moves a week, and is now struggling to get six. In the week starting July 14, the firm had no work at all for Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday.

He recently paid £300 for diesel to drive a lorry to Plymouth and back, and has had to consider laying staff off, although he is fighting not to do this at present. The family has been involved in removals for 60 years.

He said he was unable to increase his charges to cope with increases in fuel prices, as he would be undercut by "cowboys".

He said: "A two pence saving is not going to be much help to us. We are a family business and we are proud that we have never laid anyone off. We are planning to sit tight until this is all over."

The average cost of unleaded petrol in the UK is now 119.5p litre, according to motorists' organisation the AA, with diesel at around 133p.