Half of motorists do not realise that 60% of the price of fuel at the pump is tax, according to a YouGov poll for The Sun newspaper, which is supporting the Petrol Retailers’ Association and TaxPayers’ Alliance’s new forecourt campaign.

Motorists were surveyed as placards showing the true cost of fuel were put up at petrol stations across the UK.

When motorists were asked if 60% of the cost of unleaded was too much, too little or about right, 87% said it was too much, 6% said about right, 2% said too little and 4% didn’t know.

In addition, 85% of motorists polled said the Chancellor should cancel January’s planned increase in fuel duty, while 9% said the Treasury should go ahead with the hike, and 4% didn’t know.