The South West's road links have been a major headache for firms in the region for many years.

Now the government has come to the rescue with plans to widen the A303 into a dual carriageway.

The plans will relieve the notorious bottle-necks along the main road from the M3 to the M5.

Honiton-based Sheer Speed, which makes shelters for workmen, has been considering moving to another part of the country because transport links are so poor.

Business margins are being squeezed

Federation of Small Businesses

They make more than 1,000 shelters a year and many of them go to London and the South East.

They are also wanted at very short notice, so transport is an important issue.

This year turnover has trebled, but the state of the A303 is making them wonder if they should ship out.

Stainton Reid of Sheer Speed, said: "We are considering whether we should move as a consequence of the bottle-neck that we have here.

'Margins squeezed'

"It would give us greater freedom of movement and ease of supply.

"If we were able to feel more settled in terms of efficiencies of transport in and out, then we might stay here."

Anthony Bond: Time for action

Business leaders in the South West have been saying for many years that improving transport in and out of the region should be one of the government's top priorities.

The aim of dualling the A303 is to provide a good alternative to the M4 and M5.

Rupert Cox, regional organiser of the Federation of Small Businesses, said: "As soon as you increase transport time, you increase costs to businesses, so competitiveness goes out of the window.

"In the summer months especially, the road is at its worst - and business margins are being squeezed."

Farmer Anthony Bond from Aplins Farm near Honiton, remembers when the first proposals for dualling the A303 were made - in the 1950s.

He said: "They have been doing surveys every 10 years.

The traffic is getting a lot heavier and I think it is about time they did something."