The 15c increase in the price of petrol was exorbitant and the steepest since the price began fluctuating according to international movements, the Labour Party said.

Labour said the rise increased the burden on households and industry, adding that the government had not learnt a lesson from the European Parliament and local council elections. Instead, it continued to ignore the plight of families already fighting record inflation.

It said petrol was 21 per cent and diesel 14 per cent higher than in Cyprus and asked what had become of the government's intentions to bring the prices of diesel and kerosene at a par to deter abuse.