A HAMPSHIRE businessman is accusing his borough council of abusing his company's success with rocketing rent charges.

Paul Godfrey, pictured, was stunned when he was told Eastleigh Borough Council wants to increase the cost of the lease for his bathroom and kitchen firm's industrial estate units by nearly a third.

While HTS Studios is being told it will have to pay more than £9 per square foot, currently unused buildings on the Herald Industrial Estate in Hedge End are being offered at £7.50.

Managing director Mr Godfrey, believes the council is taking advantage of the fact HTS has been there for several years.

He said: "We've offered to pay the same as they're advertising the other units for, which is exactly the market rate they're asking, and we're now just waiting for the council to come back say if they'll accept that," he said.

A council spokesman said the council only lets some of the units on the estate, but the rents of most of those have been successfully renegotiated.