Hurricane Katrina sparks surge in petrol prices

Motorists were today facing fresh hikes in the cost of petrol, but retailers said pump prices were unlikely to break through the £1 (€1.46) a litre mark this year.

The destructive path blazed by Hurricane Katrina in the United States forced up the wholesale price of petrol by 8p a litre last week and led to drivers being charged more for refuelling their cars at filling stations.