The RAC said the average price of a litre of petrol is now 115p — compared to 90.7p just a year ago.

Motorists are now facing on average having to pay an extra £264 a year on fuel, with the Government set to increase fuel duty again by 2.5p on April 1, with that figure rising to 3p after VAT.

Petrol prices peaked at a record 119.7p a litre in July 2008 when oil prices were £97 a barrel. Oil currently is around £53 a barrel but the price of petrol has not fallen proportionately.

Commuters were outspoken in their shock at the rises. Many were on their way to work when they spoke to the Tele at various petrol stations throughout the city and lamented that an increase in petrol prices equated to a reduction in their wages.

One Dundee woman, Domique Rowands, who was buying petrol from Asda Milton of Craigie petrol station, said, “It’s shocking and really crippling for motorists. I have kids to get to school and travel six miles every day to get them there.

“I’ve also got university to get to. I used to spend £10 a week on fuel and now it’s more like £20 to £25.”

Another motorist said, “I’m a student and I’m finding the petrol prices quite bad. I’m on a tight budget anyway and this is making it worse.”

Prices averaged 112.9p for supermarkets and 113.9p for independent petrol stations in Dundee, with commuters often choosing the slightly more expensive option for convenience.

Supervisor at Forfar Road Service Station Linda McRae said that despite their slightly higher prices compared to supermarkets they still retained a steady flow of customers.

She added, “We have a loyal customer base. Time and time again they keep on coming back.”

Dundee Taxi Association said the city’s cabbies were also being badly hit by the latest increases.

John Curran, of the association, estimated the recent hike in petrol prices was costing drivers up to £35 extra a week, although cab owners with more drivers face bills of at least double that.

“Obviously the more it goes up, the more it affects us,” he said.

“When you go to fill up now it works out between three and five pounds extra per shift and it’s a lean time coming up with the warmer weather coming in.

“We decided not to go down the road of asking for a fuel wage rise this year because, with the economic climate, it would have been a bit silly to ask.

“It would do more harm than good so we will just have to take the hit ourselves.”

Meanwhile Dundee City Council face having to juggle resources to absorb the extra fuel costs.

A spokesman said, “Fuel prices obviously have an effect on every business and every local authority but we usually manage to contain rises within budgets.”

He added though that, when there are several increases, the impact is more severe and other things may have to be cut back to keep spending within budget.