'We must keep going' says charity hit by fuel prices

Berry's Coaches, which runs five services from the South West to London every day, said its costs have risen by £750,000 this year due to climbing fuel prices.

Berry said it has had "a big impact", but he was confident the company could "weather the storm" as it had done before in its 100-year history.

"We've absorbed a lot of that cost ourselves but unfortunately we've had to apply fuel surcharges across a number of our services - a £2 surcharge on each leg of the journey to London," he said.

"The government have delayed the rise in fuel duty but relatively that's quite a small impact - it will go up by 5p at some point by 2027.

"Really what we would like to see if further fuel duty cuts. That would be a huge benefit from the industry."

Chancellor John Healey said he was "very conscious" of people being hit by spiralling fuel prices caused by international factors.

He said he was "glad" to have frozen fuel duty until the end of the year and brought 'fuel finder' apps to help people find the cheapest petrol stations.

"I'm very aware as I prepare the budget - I'll deliver it a month today - that this needs to be a breathing space budget, recognising the cost of living and the cost of business pressures," he said at the Labour Party Conference.