The AA has urged the chancellor to scrap a planned fuel duty rise in September 2013, as petrol and diesel prices are threatening to spiral out of control.

With the Budget set to be delivered this week (March 20th), drivers and fleet operators will be keeping a close eye out for any fuel-based revelations.

The government backtracked on a proposed 3p increase in fuel duty in January 2013 and AA president Edmund King wants to hear George Osborne make a similar announcement this week.

Figures provided by the breakdown specialist have shown that petrol prices have risen by a staggering 8p a litre since the start of January and are now hovering near record levels.

Mr King called for greater transparency on fuel rates, as wholesale prices tend to fluctuate wildly and can be extremely difficult to predict.

"We are also warning the chancellor that further duty increases forecast for September could backfire on the economy," he remarked.