Gas shoots to $9.67 a gallon in Britain

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LONDON, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- Motorists are paying $9.67 a gallon for gas in Britain this week as the turmoil in the Middle East roils the oil industry, a trade group says.

RMI Petrol, the British service station association, said the 6-pound barrier had been broken at 267 filling stations and the number would continue to rise quickly in the coming days and become the norm by the middle of next week, The Daily Telegraph reported Friday.

"This is further bad news for motorists and forecourts [gas stations] as this increase looks set to coincide with the introduction of the ill thought out fuel duty escalator ...," RMI Petrol Chairman Brian Madderson said.

Paul Watters of the AA agrees.

"Drivers are going to have to brace themselves for a significant increase in fuel prices ... in coming days," he said.

"Further increases will depend on how long troubles in the Middle East and north Africa continue. We hope that, once these subside or OPEC intervenes to boost oil supply, a drop in oil prices will filter through as quickly to the pumps."