image from naturenet.net / Matthew Chatfield 
The average price of unleaded across Staffordshire is 108.5p per litre – 22p more than it was at the start of the year.
And for the price of diesel, motorists are likely to see fuel creep up to around 110p per litre, or £4.95 a gallon.
The increase is the third hike in fuel duty since December last year.
According to figures released by petrolprices.com, the cheapest petrol in North Staffordshire is found at Shell’s garage in Cobridge Road, Hanley, where unleaded is 105p per litre.
A shell worker, who did not want to be named, said: “We have noticed a change in the volume of customers using our garage, but the prices change nearly every morning so they could be different again tomorrow.”
Some stations are already forecasting a decrease in trade as people try to preserve fuel.
Student motorist Stephen Stringer said: “I am probably still going to pay for it because I hate waiting for the bus. The government need to sort it out.”
vickilheath