A new storm bearing down on the Gulf coast of the United States revived jitters over winter fuel supplies and pushed oil prices sharply higher today.

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.

Oil prices stayed close to record highs today as traders awaited reports on hurricane damage to key production and refining sites in the Gulf of Mexico.

Government talks will be held in the UK today on the increasing rise in oil prices as the threat of a repeat of the 2000 fuel blockages looms.

Motorists worried that war in Iraq will drive petrol prices higher have instead been told to expect a cut in April.

Petrol retailers in Northern Ireland are to warn the UK's Chancellor of the Exchequer today that more filling stations could close and more jobs will be lost unless the price differential with stations in the South is addressed.

British motorists were celebrating today as they discovered that petrol prices had been cut again in many filling stations.

British protesters were today considering whether to end their action against fuel prices after failing to attract country-wide support.