TESCO predicts that a continuation of the petrol price war will cost the superstore giant £30 million over the next 12 months. Company chairman Sir Ian MacLaurin said the war had now reached its peak, but increases in wholesale petrol prices would still put pressure on margins.

Speaking at the publication of Tesco's annual report, Sir Ian said Tesco sales volumes had fallen after Esso mounted its price watch campaign, though extension of its Clubcard points loyalty scheme to petrol had clawed back some of the lost ground.