'Give drivers a break' over 115p-a-litre petrol

THE average price of petrol is now above 115p a litre, with motorists being hit with a 27 per cent increase over the last 12 months.

Average pump prices were about 90.7p a litre a year ago, with the cost of filling a tank now about 264 a year more expensive for the average motorist, the RAC added.

It said that alongside the rising wholesale price of fuel, motorists had had to endure three tax rises on petrol in the last 12 months.

In April 2009 there was a 1.84p fuel duty rise, followed by a further rise of 2p in September.

Then on 1 January, VAT increased by 2.5 per cent, causing a further price rise of 2.5p a litre. To further add to the misery for motorists, fuel duty is set to rise on 1 April by inflation plus 1p.

Adrian Tink, motoring strategist for the RAC, said: "The tough year for motorists continues unabated with petrol prices constantly spiralling upwards. The extra cost of filling up is making a huge dent in already-stretched family budgets.

"The government needs to take a close look at the proposed fuel duty rise in April. When this was announced in last year's budget by Alistair Darling, petrol prices were well below the 1 a litre mark.

"Now they're heading back towards the record highs of the summer of 2008, helped along the way by the government's taxation policy. The government needs to give Britain's motorists a break and cancel the proposed fuel duty rise."

The AA said two-car families were now paying an average of 50 more a month for petrol than a year ago.