Diesel passed the 140p per litre mark today, as fuel prices at petrol stations hit record highs.

Andy Atkins, Friends of the Earth’s Executive Director, said: “Rising fuel prices are hitting people hard – and highlight the urgent need for the Chancellor to take firm action to wean our economy off its oil addiction.

“We need long-term solutions to our transport problems – not short-term measures that simply paper over the cracks.

This time last year drivers were paying on average 116.71p a litre for petrol and 117.42p for diesel

With George Osborne announcing the coalition’s new budget tomorrow Mr Atkins is hoping the Government will act as green as they claim to be: “The Chancellor must make public transport cheaper and more convenient and encourage people to drive smarter cars that use less fuel.”