The increase in fuel duty came into effect at midnight

That increase could push up the average price of unleaded to about 98p, while diesel could exceed �1 if the cost is passed on to motorists.

The Petrol Retailers Association said the rise would put an undue "strain on motorists and petrol retailers alike".

BBC economics editor Evan Davis said the rise would be nearer to 2.3p when VAT was taken into account.

The increase, in line with inflation, was first announced in Gordon Brown's 2007 Budget when he was chancellor.

The duty rise comes amid soaring oil prices and high borrowing costs.

The Budget also outlined another rise of 2p a litre next April and a further increase of 1.84p in April 2009.

Petrol Retailers Association director Ray Holloway said the number of petrol stations was already falling and it would "not take much to push more stations out of business".

Everyone affected

FUEL PRICE FACTS Fuel duty will go up by 2p from 1 October If the cost is passed on, petrol prices could reach �1 a litre It will mean duty on diesel accounts for more than half of its cost, the highest in Europe

BP was the only petrol retailer to confirm before Monday that it would definitely pass on the 2p cost to drivers, while many of its rivals, including some of the big supermarket chains, said they would be ensuring that their fuel prices "remained competitive".

The AA has criticised the government's move, highlighting that petrol prices have risen steeply in line with the oil price, which surged to record highs past $83 a barrel last week.

Meanwhile, the Freight Transport Association (FTA) argues the 2p increase will lead to the annual operating costs of one 44-tonne articulated lorry rising by �870 to �35,600.

At 50.35p a litre from 1 October, the duty paid on diesel in the UK is the highest rate in Europe, where the average level is 22.7p a litre.

"Fuel represents a third of the operating cost of many lorries and significant increases in fuel prices are bad news for transport and thus for customers," said Geoff Dossetter, FTA director of external affairs.

HAVE YOUR SAY I cannot see this tax rise as anything more than an attack on those who are trying to make ends meet Alexander Richardson, Dunfermline Send us your comments

He argues the rise is a tax on industry that gets filtered down to consumers.

"Road transport costs constitute an ingredient in the price of almost everything we eat, drink and use every day and it is essential that we contain those costs as far as we are able."

'Environmental signals'

Stephen Joseph, executive director of the Campaign for Better Transport, said the rise was welcome, provided the extra money raised was used to improve public transport and "other measures that will give people real travel choices".

A Treasury spokesman said the tax rise sent "the right environmental signals in our fight against climate change".

"After these changes, by 2010 main fuel duty rates will be 11% lower in real terms than they were in 1999," he said.

"The changes were made alongside reforms to Vehicle Excise Duty that cut rates for less polluting vehicles, and a number of measures to support hauliers, which they have welcomed."