The town was named as the cheapest place in the UK to fill up –– with a litre of unleaded at one petrol station costing 108.9p compared to the most expensive 126.9p on the Isle of Wight.

But the bargain was short-lived, as prices at the Oak Tree Lane Tesco store made a 5p leap to 113.9p-a-litre on Friday.

"We were overrun with people trying to make the most of it while it lasted," an attendant at the fuel station told Chad last week.

'Fault'

"We had a fault with one of the computers that meant we couldn't put the prices up until this morning."

Mansfield's cheapest litre of unleaded now costs 111.9p, while the most expensive costs 115.9p, just below the national average of 116.1p.

The cheapest litre of diesel comes from Mansfield's Sainsburys store, costing 123.9p per litre, a total of 5.5p cheaper than the national average of 129.4p, while Mansfield's most expensive diesel costs 131.9p per litre.

Last week, lorry drivers blockaded parts of London and held a go-slow on the M4 to protest about the ever-increasing cost of fuel as drivers begin to worry if the costs will soon be out of reach completely.

Spiralling

Spiralling prices have led some to argue that a reduction in costs will only come with the abolition of VAT on fuel.

But the Government claims the current fuel duty is 11 per cent lower than it was in 1999 when taking into account inflation.

And Mansfield MP Alan Meale told Chad this week the problem was a global one and ministers are doing all they can.

He said: "The taxation on petrol has been fixed since October last year, the recent increases are to do with the cost of fuel going up around the world.

"If anyone wants to see prices cut then they need to be ready to see schools and hospitals close to make up for it.

"These prices aren't from this year's budget, they're from last year's. The Government has kept its word to keep taxes the same."

Fears

But fears are growing among motorists as the Government comes to consider whether its proposed 2p increase on fuel duty in October will go ahead.

Recent pressures have led Chancellor Alistair Darling to admit the increase may well be deferred again.

George Cowcher, chief executive of the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber, which represents businesses in both counties, said the impact of rising prices could stretch far beyond the pumps.

He said: "Fuel is becoming an increasingly large cost for all companies, so for those which can't pass on their costs it is concerning.

"These companies will have to look elsewhere to save money and that could mean cutting jobs.

"The first thing the Government should be doing is scrapping the 2p increase in fuel duty. But ultimately the Government doesn't have much influence on this — it's a global problem."

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