The average price of petrol climbed up from 191.10p per litre to 191.24ppl on Tuesday. For diesel drivers, they now pay an average 199.01ppl, up from the 198.96ppl recorded the previous day.

This now takes the cost of filling up the average 55-litre family car to £105.18 and £109.45 respectively.

RAC fuel spokesman, Simon Williams, said: “Inexplicably, fuel prices rose yet again yesterday.

“We can see absolutely no rhyme or reason why average forecourt prices are still going up, given that the wholesale price of both fuels has been falling for weeks.

“Drivers up and down the country have a right to know why they’re having to pay what they are for fuel when the costs to retailers right now are so much less they were a few weeks ago.

“Suggestions that the government might be about to announce more support for hard-pressed drivers are welcome. A cut to the price of forecourt fuel really can’t come soon enough. If it’s a further fuel duty cut that the chancellor decides on, it’s absolutely vital that this is passed on in full immediately by retailers to give drivers some respite from these historic high prices. It’s also vital the government monitors the wholesale market and closely scrutinises retailer margins.”

Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for the AA, said; “Drivers are being taken for fools by retailers as the cost of fuel continues its worryingly upward trend.

“With the prime minister and the chancellor talking openly about the prospect of cutting fuel duty further, drivers need to hear less talk and see more action.

“An additional 10p cut in duty, which the AA called for weeks ago, will not only help ease the pressure at the pumps but keep prices in supermarket aisles down too. Until this happens, household budgets across the country will continue being squeezed.”