THOUSANDS of householders in Hampshire could see their online shopping deliveries delayed under strict new EU rules on drivers' working hours, it emerged today.

As reported in the Daily Echo yesterday, lorry drivers will have to abide by a maximum 48-hour working week from April 4. At present they clock up an average 55 hours a week.

A third of freight companies may have to cut daily deliveries, such as groceries ordered over the Internet, as a result of the Road Transport Directive.

The warning has been sounded by the Freight Transport Association (FTA) and property consultancy NAI Fuller Peiser following a joint survey.

This region - already suffering from driver shortages - could be hit hardest, said the FTA.

FTA policy director James Hookham said: "There's no doubt that the directive represents a huge challenge for businesses involved in goods delivery."

Today's survey involved more than 250 companies, employing about 400,000 staff.

It found:

Only ten per cent of companies believe they are fully compliant with the new regulations

77 per cent of companies have sought to employ more drivers

84 per cent have sought to employ more non-driving staff

More than a third of respondents think distribution facilities will have to move closer to urban areas

More staff are likely to be needed in order to do the same amount of work - forcing up costs and, potentially, high street prices.

NAI Fuller Peiser boss Martin Coles said: "The outlook does look worrying for the retail sector.

"However, transport and logistics companies can address this problem if they maximise the efficiency of their warehouses by increasing the amount of parking space available and speeding up the picking and loading processes.

"That way, drivers spend more time on the road and less time queuing up on site."