Life for UK motorists could become even more difficult than it already is if the price of petrol rises as forecast. The rising price of crude oil could see petrol jump by as much as 4 pence per litre over the next three weeks according to chairman of RMI Petrol, Brian Madderson. RMI represents two thirds of the countries petrol forecourts. Madderson added that the rising price of crude was bad news, but not entirely unexpected.

Last weekend the price of an average litre of petrol at the pumps was 116.65 pence. A rise of 4 pence would mean that petrol would hit 121 pence, marginally below the record price of 121.61 pence achieved in May.

Motoring organisation the AA said it was worrying how quickly the increase in the price of crude oil was being reflected at the pumps.

Spokesman for the group, Luke Bosdet, said a hike in the price of petrol would be crippling for motorists, especially in the south east. He explained that a lack of competition meant that filling up a tank in one town could be far more expensive than filling it up in the town next door because there was no competition on price.

Prices are unlikely to fall any time in the near future because of additional taxation on fuel. The coalition government intends to see through Labour’s budget plans to add an extra 1 pence per litre at the beginning of October with a further hike of 0.76 pence per litre as of 1 January next year.