A new record was set on Sunday as the price of petrol hit 188.70p per litre while diesel edged back slightly from 196.10ppl on Saturday to 196.06ppl yesterday.

According to the RAC, more than five weeks of successive record prices has caused a litre of unleaded to rocket 23p from the average 165.5p recorded in mid-May.

This takes the cost of filling up the average 55-litre family car to £103.79, while the diesel equivalent stands at £107.83.

RAC fuel spokesman, Simon Williams, said: “This is yet more bad news for drivers, particularly with this week’s rail strikes leaving many people with no choice but to use their cars. But looking at the wholesale cost of petrol – which has settled due the oil price falling – petrol pump prices really should not continue to rise.

“If anything they ought to begin reducing. Sadly though, diesel looks destined to head rapidly towards an average of £2 a litre which would make a full tank £110.

“We strongly hope the extent of the rises seen in both fuels will finally force the government to take action to ease the burden on drivers by further cutting duty or lessening the punishing impact of VAT which currently accounts for 31p a litre on petrol – 6p more than it was before the Ukraine war began.”