Budget: One family's view

Help for families and getting people into work has been made a top priority by the Chancellor- in what he called the deepest recession since World War Two.

But today father-of-three Jim Fletcher, 40, of Bayston Hill, near Shrewsbury, said it was a "bad budget" for his family and the Chancellor had not put enough money in his pocket.

Mr Fletcher lives with his wife Julie, 41, and children Matthew, 17, Dean, 15, and Lynsey, seven.

His wife spends about £15 on cigarettes a week and Mr Fletcher, a postman, has to drive to work in Craven Arms every day.

He said the increase on tobacco duty of two per cent would hit the family.

"That's taking money from us again," he said, "I travel from Bayston Hill to Craven Arms every day so that will hit us again."

Mr Fletcher said the Budget had not cheered him up about the recession.

"It's a difficult time but there's not a great deal in it for us. He is leaving the VAT reduction until December so that might help a little but I do not think people will really notice it."

Mr Fletcher, who has two cars over 10 years old, said he welcomed the £2,000 discount on a new car if you trade in an old one, but it still would not enable him to buy a new car.

He welcomed the help for youngsters aged 16 and 17 to stay in further education as his son Matthew is just starting his second year.

Mr Fletcher also welcomed the news child tax credits would increase by £20 from next April and said it would help his children to stay in further education.

Despite Mr Darling saying the country is facing the worse peacetime recession, Mr Fletcher said he did not feel it had hit the family yet.

"I do consider myself to be fairly safe as a postman," he said.

"Our mortgage has gone to virtually nothing with the interest rates so it's a lot easier and we are even overpaying it."

By Rebecca Lawrence