PETROL prices are on the rise again after a 1p-a- litre government fuel duty increase on petrol and diesel came into effect yesterday.

The move has come under fire from businesses and motorists amid concerns about falling petrol sales as the recession forces drivers to leave their cars at home.

AA president Edmund King has criticised the increase as “hard for drivers to accept”.

“Fuel consumption has fallen significantly due to the effect of recession and tough household and business finances,” he said.

“Pushing the petrol price almost to the level of the 2008 record high simply continues the folly of creating more pain for less gain. This increase could backfire as it will hinder economic growth.”

There are fears that transport firms could be among those hit hardest.

Richard Young, company secretary for Dave Forrest Transport in Christchurch, said: “This is an ongoing thing and we’re taking this on the chin all the time. It keeps driving up our costs.”

He added: “This is not doing us any good at all but there’s nothing we can do about it.”

Commuters may also feel the pinch from rising prices.

Lizzie Smith, 54, who commutes to Boscombe every day from Swanage, was angry about the increases.

“If it wasn’t for the fact that taxes are so high on petrol anyway, the increases would be absorbed,” she said.

“It could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back for a lot of families.”

Brendan McLoughlin, founder of fuel price comparison website PetrolPrices.com, said the rises were not an immediate cause for concern.

“I think that given the price of petrol has fallen recently people won’t notice the rise immediately,” he said.

“Of course, it all adds to a very high amount of duty and it will have an effect in time.

“For now though, the effect will be less noticeable.”