A litre of petrol now costs 136.1p, up from 135.19p a week ago, according to government figures released today.

The cost of diesel has also gone up from 137.95p a litre to 139.2p.

The last time petrol prices were at this level was in September 2013, when petrol was 135.9p, and October 2013, when diesel was 139.15p a litre.

The price hike comes amid chaotic scenes at forecourts in the past week, with drivers panic buying fuel over fears of supplies running out and petrol stations closing due to a shortage of lorry drivers.

Yesterday, the Petrol Retailers Association chairman told Sky News that 22 per cent of petrol stations in London and the southeast were still without fuel.

Today’s figures echo those published by the RAC last week, which said fuel prices were at an eight-year high thanks to a huge spike in the wholesale cost of fuel.

The motoring group also said some retailers had been cashing-in on the current situation by hiking prices.