The high cost of oil is proving to be a stumbling block for tradesmen with plumbing course training who are trying to grow their businesses, according to a representative from the Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors (APHC).

John Thompson, chief executive of the organisation, told OilFiredUp that the price of petrol is making some engineers' lives a "misery".

He pointed out that the extra expense that it leads to does not combine well with current trading environment, in which customers are very keen to find the lowest quote for jobs.

"For the average Ford Transit style van travelling 30,000 miles a year at an average 30mpg that means around