Fuel retailers have told motorists the increases are only the beginning. As oil analysts predict prices will exceed $50 (£27) a barrel next week, petrol companies say higher prices are inevitable.

Ian Hay, a People’s Fuel Lobby campaigner, warned that unless something is done to stop the price rise, protests could be staged that will be similar to those that paralysed the country in 2000.

"I would imagine if things carry on this way we will have to look at taking action," he said. "If fuel prices rise by another penny next week like it has been suggested, I think we’ll definitely do something about it. Everyone in Britain objects to the price of fuel, so I’m sure everyone will be willing to join in."

Hay, who took part in road blockades during the protests in 2000, said fuel duty, not the price of fuel itself, was the problem. He said a litre of fuel costs about 20p and has 47p of duty added, to make it around 18p dearer than the rest of Europe.

"Take other countries such as France, Holland and Belgium. Their duty is much lower, so I don’t know why our government doesn’t take ours down," Hay said. "If the government took the fuel duty down, more people would buy fuel and they would get more revenue."

Kate Gibbs, communications manager for the Road Haulage Association, said RHA members could not keep passing fuel price increases onto their customers. "When motorists queue for fuel, they know they’re paying for their own use," she said. "But when our hauliers fill their tanks with fuel, they know their customer might not pay them for another 90 days, and they’ve got to cover that cost.

"We’re calling for a decrease in fuel duty, and we want to see it happen as soon as possible."

However, government ministers have said they are prepared for any possible protests over petrol prices.

Alistair Darling, the transport secretary, has said the government has plans for "all sorts of eventualities."

The Department of Trade and Industry has said there are "contingency plans in place in case of worst-case scenarios to make sure there is no disruption of supply".

RHA

DTI