A WENSLEYDALE garage owner is worried for the future of his family business after he was excluded from a fuel relief scheme - despite neighbouring petrol stations qualifying for the discount.

The Government announced in March that Hawes would be included in the rural fuel duty relief programme which was launched to help motorists in areas faced with higher pump prices because of extra transportation costs and lower demand.

The scheme meant the town's petrol station would be able to claim back up to 5p per litre duty relief on unleaded petrol and diesel, and pass on the savings to customers.

As well as Hawes, filling stations in Woodhall, near Carperby, and Aysgarth have applied and been accepted to take part in the scheme.

However, Bridge Garage, in Bainbridge, which is nearer to Hawes than both Woodhall and Aysgarth, has had its application rejected by HM Revenue and Customs.

Owner Peter Metcalfe is furious that he can no longer compete with the prices available at neighbouring garages which get the discount.

"I just don't understand why we're not eligible," he said.

"The letter doesn't explain. I tried to ring the helpline number on the letter but a lad just said 'I don't know anything about it'.

"I've got customers coming in and asking if we've got the rebate yet. When I tell them 'no' they say 'oh well I'm popping up to Hawes so I'll get my fuel then'."

The garage's exclusion is all the more inexplicable when Government information on the scheme states that garages need to be within the "DL8 3" postcode to qualify, which the Bridge Garage is.

Mr Metcalfe has taken his complaint to Richmondshire District Council leader Yvonne Peacock, who has asked Richmond MP Rishi Sunak to look into the case.

Mrs Peacock said: "I just can't understand how Aysgarth and Woodhall qualify but Bainbridge doesn't - it's completely unfair.

"The Metcalfe family has served this community for more than 70 years and deserve better.

"I know Rishi is looking into the problem so hopefully it will get resolved."

An HMRC spokesman said the department did not comment on individual businesses for reasons of taxpayer confidentiality.

He added: "HMRC assesses the eligibility of fuel retailers in certain areas to apply for rural fuel duty relief using a range of criteria, including pump prices, cost of transporting fuel and population density.

"The scheme allows 125,000 people living in selected areas, who currently face some of the highest fuel prices in the country despite depending on cars for transport, to benefit from cheaper fuel."