Brian Madderson, RMI Petrol chairman, is calling on the Government to control the panic fuel buying which has swept across the UK this week.

Madderson said: "Government created this fuel crisis and now it must take full control."

Starting slowly on Monday, motorists and business users have pushed up demand rapidly over just four days to yesterday's unsustainable levels.

Sales of diesel has risen by 76.8% and unleaded is up by 171.8% over the last week.

Maddersons said: “Meanwhile shop sales have hardly risen. However with thanks to Francis Maude, many retailers have sold all their small stocks of petrol jerrycans.

“There is no evidence of price profiteering with the poll indicating pump price increases of less than 1% over the past week. This is in line with the movement of wholesale costs.

“Undoubtedly, there will be isolated cases of higher pump increases for financial reasons attributable to that particular retailer.”