Retailers across Shropshire today expressed outrage and horror at predictions that fuel prices are set to rise by more than 20 per cent over coming months.

Industry experts yesterday forecast dramatic rises with city speculators being blamed for potential increases.

Experts believe that the price of fuel will rise from about £1 per litre for unleaded to £1.15 per litre by the end of summer. They forecast the price of diesel to go up from £1.03 to £1.26 per litre.

Today outraged petrol station owners in Shropshire said the rises could cripple their businesses.

They said a return to the sort of prices that were commonplace last summer could even put some of them out of business.

Nicky Grove, manageress at Night & Day, in Sycamore View, Prees Heath, Whitchurch, said last year’s pump price rises put many businesses under strain.

Loyal

She said: “It made a difference but we coped okay.

“A lot of locals and loyal customers carried on motoring. If the prices go up again this year it would have an effect, but we would be okay.”

Paul Heathman, manager at Ludford Bridge Service Station, at Temeside, in Ludlow, said rises similar to those implemented last summer would have a terrible effect.

He said: “Last summer the prices were really high and it got quieter.

“As the prices go higher it does get quieter because people have to cut back, they can’t afford it.

“The higher the price goes, the more of a struggle it gets to sell.

“It puts pressure on everything all round, not just the fuel stations. Businesses struggle because their costs increase. Consumers suffer. We’re all in the same boat.”

Industry expert Mark Bradshaw, a spokesman for Garage Watch and who used to run a service station at Quatt, near Bridgnorth, said he did not believe there were any justified reasons for pushing up prices.

By Andy Richardson