UK petrol prices hit record high

Fuel prices caused protests in 2000

Petrol prices at UK pumps have reached their highest-ever levels, according to petrol consultancy Catalyst.

A litre of unleaded petrol now costs 85.6p and some analysts are warning of further increases to come.

The previous record was 85.3p in 2000, when drivers blockaded roads to protest at the soaring costs and government plans to raise taxes on fuel.

Petrol retailers say the volatile nature of the world's oil markets is to blame for fluctuating petrol prices.

The AA Trust said the price of a litre could rise or fall by as much as 5p from current levels in response to the global oil situation.

Bert Morris, the trust's director, said the next "psychologically important" level would be 90p a litre.

"It will take more than the oil market fluctuations that we've been seeing to drive prices to that level," he said.

But the Petrol Retailers Association said it expected prices to continue rising - possibly hitting new highs in the summer.