Road hauliers are calling on Alistair Darling to offer them some financial assistance in next week's Budget.

The chancellor, who delivers his first Budget statement on Tuesday, has been urged to consider measures that will help hard-pressed haulage firms and commercial fleets.

At a meeting last month, the Freight Transport Association (FTA) asked for plans to increase fuel duty on diesel by 2p per litre to be scrapped.

The trade body also urged Mr Darling to extend a freeze on vehicle excise duty (VED) for lorries until 2009.

The FTA claims the Treasury already brings in £5.7 billion in VED and diesel duty from hauliers, at a time when they are struggling against competition form overseas, rising fuel prices and annual costs like insurance.

Mr Darling will be hoping to strike a balance between appeasing groups like the FTA and pushing ahead with plans to use taxes and charges to reduce emissions from road vehicles.

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