Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has announced that it will be publishing new advisory fuel rates (AFRs) in light of rising pump prices.

It says the new figures will be revealed “shortly” and will take effect from March 1.

HMRC reviews AFRs every six months and the current rates, which were effective from December 1, 2010, were not due to be updated until June 1.

The average price of diesel was 123.7p per litre at the beginning of December and was 133.2p per litre last week – an increase of nearly 8%.