GREATER Manchester Chamber of Commerce has called on the government to reconsider the 2p increase in fuel duty which came into force at midnight.

The increase has taken the average price of petrol across Britain to about £1.05 per litre.

Richard Critchley, policy manager for transport at Greater Manchester Chamber, said: "With petrol prices already rising, and the economic recovery looking shaky at best, now is not the time to start increasing taxes. The haulage sector, already suffering from a slowdown in demand, will now be hit by rising costs at a time when the government should be helping them.

"A recent survey has shown that 28 per cent of chamber members consider that this tax rise will have a significant to severe impact on their operations."

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