Britain's fuel crisis has a new hate figure - an Exeter garage owner who charged £1.99 a litre for petrol.
The prospect of paying £100 to fill up a car was made a reality by Ron James, who runs the BWOC Foxhayes garage, in Exwick, Exeter.
Prices there rose to £1.99.9 a litre for unleaded petrol and diesel yesterday after a four-day strike by tanker drivers caused hundreds of filling stations to run out of fuel.
James suggested the move was intended to prevent panic buying, but the prices have now come down after causing outrage.
"We were more vilified than George Bush," a member of staff told BBC News.
The Association of British Drivers accused James of "blantant profiteering", while the fuel watchdog petrolprices.com said the price hike would add to the panic.
The Mirror urged James's milkman to take revenge by charging him £2 a bottle.
The rises at the Devon garage were reported to be the biggest recorded mark-up.
But at least one group will be pleased - naked cyclists. The organisers of last weekend's world naked bike ride said higher fuel prices would help curb car use.
