SOMETHING has to be done. That was the message from Dorset industry and motorists as MPs debated fuel prices in the Commons.

Yesterday, Prime Minister David Cameron faced another revolt from MPs, with more than 100 in total – most Conservatives – signing a motion going against government policy on the issue. The backbenchers want a price stabilisation mechanism to stop more hikes, including the proposed 3p per litre increase in January.

The debate, which was triggered by an online petition that reached more than 100,000 signatures, again brought the issue to the fore.

John Probert, chairman of Poole haulage firm Wyvern Cargo, said the government rate of fuel duty was ‘horrendous’.

“At the present time diesel and petrol costs at the pump include a duty of 58p, going up to 61p in January.

“That’s what we want to see withdrawn.

“The reason is everything, all the goods we buy in the shops, has travelled on a lorry, so increasing duty is a driver for inflation.

“Anyone who travels to work by car is feeling the effect more.”

He said that petrol prices in the UK exceeded those in Europe, making goods less competitive across the Channel, the UK’s main export market.

“If they’re listening they will tackle it, they will at least freeze any increases and hopefully find a way of reducing the duty on diesel to reduce costs for firms like ours,” he added.

Stephen Poultney, who runs the independent Avenue Garage in Swanage, said: “It’s a question of looking at the bigger picture in my opinion. We’re in the mire economically, there’s no one way out and the motorist is a soft target.

“As long as we want to drive cars, it’s going to be like that.”

Kathy Tilbury, MD of Excelsior Coaches in Bournemouth and president of Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said her firm was now spending £1million a year on fuel.

“What you’ve got to look at is petrol in the latter part of this year and look at the cost of Brent Crude oil, it’s dropped but we’ve seen the price of diesel and unleaded increase,” she said.

The Prime Minister’s spokesman said: “We recognise as a government that motoring is an essential part of everyday life for many families and fuel is a significant cost for those families.”

Annette Brooke, Lib Dem MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, said: “The essential point is that ordinary people are being hit very hard with what’s happening in world markets, which appears to be compounded by petrol companies themselves passing on the increases to the customer quickly in all of this.

“The government is in a straitjacket at the moment in terms of what it does with taxation and spending policy in general.

“It really is an incredibly difficult issue of how it’s hitting business and families and I think the government has to do everything it can, but there has to be acceptance that the world markets have a big impact on this.”