by Martin Jefferies

Prices at a petrol station in Kent are the highest anywhere in
the country, a campaign group has said.

Fair Fuel UK, which was set up by Folkestone haulage boss Peter
Carroll, found a litre of petrol at the BP garage on the M2
motorway near Gillingham now costs £1.40 - that's £6.37 a
gallon.

They said the price is a record high for the UK.

Meanwhile, the forecourt was also selling a litre of diesel at
£1.44 - £6.55 a gallon.

Mr Carroll described the prices as "shocking" and said the UK
was being "pushed into a fuel price crisis".

More than 120,000 people have already signed an online petition calling for the government to scrap its planned 1p fuel duty hike next month.

Chancellor George Osborne has hinted that he may drop the
increase amid fears over soaring oil prices.

Speaking at the Conservative party's spring conference in
Cardiff yesterday, he told cash-strapped motorists he would do
"everything I can to find a way to help".