In a preview to today's budget announcement by Chancellor Alistair Darling, Rachel Marsdin, director of tax at Moore and Smalley Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors, Kendal, gives her thoughts on what we can expect to hear this afternoon.

"In his opening gambit today, Alistair Darling is expected to say this will be 'a budget to secure the recovery, tackle borrowing and invest in our industrial future'.

"Some potential good news for young couples here in Cumbria is that Mr Darling is expected to announce the scrapping of stamp duty on all homes under £250,000 for first-time buyers.

"He is also expected to put a freeze on a fuel duty rise that was due to come in next month and this will be welcome relief for motorists and for transport companies - the latter being an important part of our local economy. Small businesses will also be hoping he will announce some new measures to help credit-starved firms.

"Overall I think Darling will deliver the Budget with an optimistic tone, pointing out the lower than expected levels of borrowing and unemployment. The Tories and Lib Dems won’t be giving him an easy ride though and claim he has already made a “complete mess” of the economy."