DRIVERS in Huddersfield have been warned - petrol prices are to smash the £1 a litre barrier.

The warning came from an industry expert.

Chris Stern, of Paddock- based C & J Stern (Oils) Ltd, said: "If production costs continue to rise as they have been doing, we will have £1 a litre within the next few weeks."

Some motorway filling stations and others in isolated parts of the country are already charging £1 a litre for diesel.

Mr Stern said: "Watford Gap services on the M1 was the first to break the £1 barrier, which is equal to £4.55 a gallon.

"Other filling stations in remote areas have followed suit.

"Luckily, Huddersfield has some of the most competitive prices anywhere in the country."

Motorists in the town are currently paying about 94.9p a litre for unleaded and 97.9p a litre for diesel.

But Mr Stern said there was mounting pressure on prices to go still higher - due to production problems in Nigeria, rising tensions over Iran and rising demand from China and India.

Mr Stern said he had not noticed any changes to drivers' habits as a result of rising prices.

"People have to go about their everyday business whatever the price," he said.

"However, I can see more people opting for diesel when they get a new car.

"I can see the day when we sell more diesel than unleaded.

"Although diesel is that bit more expensive, its fuel economy is far superior."

Motoring organisation the AA said average prices across the UK were now 95.57p a litre for unleaded and 98.47p for diesel.

A spokesman said: "At these prices, the average two-car family is paying an extra £16.46 on petrol per month compared with the start of the year.

"UK petrol sales totalled £63.6m on January 2. Last Sunday, we spent £68.8m."

The AA has issued a six- point plan for saving fuel:

* Stick to the speed limit on motorways. Driving at 70mph saves 40p every 10 miles or a litre of petrol every 20 compared with travelling at over 80mph.

* Make less use of the air conditioning, which adds 10% to fuel consumption.

* Check the road ahead and travel at quieter times. Sitting in a traffic jam wastes petrol at the rate of 2p to 3p a minute.

* Two-car families should use the smaller, more frugal vehicle for short trips.

* When buying replacement cars, choose ones with better fuel economy.

* Check trip computers on modern cars for fuel consumption, but only when stationary.