Figures released by the AA showed that between mid-April and mid-May, the average price of diesel rose by 6.76p to 124.17p a litre, the highest month-on-month increase this decade.

In Northampton, the average price of diesel has risen to 125.3p, with the most expensive being 132.9p a litre.

Ian Mayes, commercial director of Wreford's Transport, based in Far Cotton, said the rapid price hikes meant the haulage firm was not able to offer customers the same prices every week.

Mr Mayes said: "We can't do a fixed surcharge because prices are going up on a weekly basis.

"If we did not do that then we would be out of business.

"I don't know when it is going to end. The price of everything is going to go up as everything you buy in the shops has to be transported by a truck at some point."

The average price of unleaded petrol at the pumps has risen by 4.49p a litre in the last month, with the national average now 112.55p a litre.

In Northampton, the average price of petrol is 114.1p, nearly 1p more than London which has an average price of 113.3p a litre.

Bernard Howard, group director of PC Howard Ltd, which has a depot in Brixworth, said: "It is diabolical.

"I am very concerned this country is heading into oblivion. Employees need increases to cover fuel costs and food costs. In my life I have never known it so bad."

AA president Edmund King said: "The price rises in recent days were of a magnitude only exceeded in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, when the price of petrol rose almost 3.5p in a week.

"With many UK families embarking on their holidays next week, the timing could hardly be worse."

The Chronicle& Echo recently launched a campaign to try to have fuel prices in the county lowered and sent a letter to the Office of Fair Trading asking them to investigate why prices at the pump were higher in Northampton than in many other parts of the country.