that's designed to stop supply chain disruption ahead of christmas. it comes as a shortage of driver led to shortages in petrol stations and empty shelves in supermarkets. the british chambers of commerce said the latest announcement was like throwing a thimble of water on a bonfire. here's our business correspondent katy austin. the 5,000 visas will be available for people who drive fuel tankers and food lorries from the start of october. they'll last only until christmas eve. it's thought the shortfall of hgv drivers in the uk runs into tens of thousands. the problem has been building for years but has worsened following brexit and the pandemic. one haulier said today's news was a step in the right direction. it might well get us over the peak time although i would like to have seen it four months, but we'll take what we can. but it's not enough and it's too little too late, basically. the government had resisted calls from retail and freight business groups for a short—term relaxation of immigration rules.