Petrol is set to rise by around 4 pence per litre in the coming days, as petrol retailers pass on increases in the wholesale price of fuel to their customers.

While price increases are to be expected in such circumstances, critics have suggested that when wholesale prices rise, the cost is passed to the motorist very swiftly, whereas when those prices fall, it takes a long time before those drops are reflected at the petrol pumps.

The latest figures from the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) state that a litre of petrol will cost 132.83 pence per litre, and diesel 140.4. This means that filling up a Vauxhall Astra will cost around £2 more.

A spokesman for the PRA said: "We cannot explain to our customers why the wholesale price is going up so much - it is not due to Government tax, it is not due to Brent crude going up and it is not due to the weak currency exchange.”

There have been some suggestions that wholesale increases are due to speculation by traders.

These concerns, along with mounting criticism that retailers are failing to pass on price drops as quickly as price rises, have led to pressure on the Office of Fair Trading to intervene. Next week they will decide if an investigation is to be launched into fuel pricing.

As an issue that is close to the hearts of many of our annual breakdown cover customers, here at startrescue.co.uk we will be watching events closely.