Groups hit out at 2.3p fuel rise

Motoring groups have hit out at today's petrol price rise as a government 2.3p-a-litre fuel tax increase came into force.

The move is unpopular with motoring associations and prompted supermarket chain Morrisons to freeze the price of its fuel for the rest of the week.

Motoring groups, and others, had pressed the Government to delay bringing in the promised September 1 rise – the third of its kind in the last nine months.

But they proved unsuccessful and average petrol prices will now rise to around 107p a litre.

At the beginning of the year petrol was roughly 85p a litre, but with world oil prices likely to increase over the next few weeks, it is feared prices at the pump could go up to 110p a litre soon.

This would mean drivers, on average, having to find an extra £60 a year for their petrol.

Edmund King, AA president, said: "The six-day fuel duty freeze from Morrisons will help high mileage motorists and those that forget to fill up before the increase.

"However, it is only a short-term relief for the motorist in what looks like is going to be a tough autumn for drivers.

"A fuel price hike is the last thing that the economy needs at the moment."

RAC motoring strategist Adrian Tink said said it was planned to raise fuel duty yet again in April. He went on: "With VAT also returning to 17.5 per cent it could be a very long winter for motorists."