A RISE in petrol prices is unlikely to spark a repeat of fuel blockades that crippled the two counties three years ago.

Chancellor Gordon Brown announced last week that fuel prices would be rising by 1.28 pence a litre from today.

The Treasury says the increase, which will add five pence a gallon to petrol and diesel prices, is in line with inflation.

Farmers and hauliers say although they are angered by the increase, there are no plans to stage any protests.

"We are concerned about it and are monitoring the situation, but no one is talking about any protests," said David Handley, spokesman for Farmers For Action.

"We had a meeting in Worcester on Monday night, and although the rising cost of fuel was on the agenda, it was not the main topic of conversation."

And Andy Boyle, secretary of the Hereford and Worcester branch of the Road Haulage Association (RHA) said the announcement that the price of fuel was to rise had come as no surprise.

"The Chancellor hinted at it in his Budget in April, so we weren't surprised," said Mr Boyle, of ABE (Ledbury) Ltd.

"There's a fair amount of disenchantment about it. It hurts, but it's not a cataclysmic rise."

The Treasury said the world oil market had stabilised since April, when it announced it was postponing a fuel increase for six months.

Sainsbury's will be absorbing the increase so customers will not have to pay more for their petrol.

"The costs will be absorbed indefinitely," said a spokesman for Sainsbury's.

Prices will remain at 79.9 for lead replacement petrol, 74.9 for unleaded and 76.9 for diesel.

And Asda has also said it will absorb the duty increase and has announced it will be cutting the price of its fuel for the second time in four days.

It will be offering petrol with an average price of 73.2p per litre for unleaded fuel and diesel will cost 74.3p per litre.

n We want to find the cheapest - and most expensive - fuel on sale in Worcestershire and Herefordshire. Call Leda Reynolds on 01905 74 22 67 or email: wenedit@thisisworcester.co.uk.