Drivers are being overcharged by 10p a litre for fuel, the AA has said, as petrol stations have suffered up to an 85 per cent drop in trade.

The AA calculated that, in normal times, the price of petrol should be around the £1 mark given the huge slump in the global oil price and the knock-on effect on the wholesale price of fuel.

However, its fuel price report showed that motorists are currently paying an average of £1.10 for a litre – although this is an 11p drop from last month.

The news comes as petrol stations are fighting for survival with the lockdown leaving huge numbers of cars unused as people stay at home. Brian Madderson, of the Petrol Retailers Association, said some members had recorded a drop in sales of up to 85 per cent.

Around 100 independent forecourts have been forced to close as a result of coronavirus, he said, with no guarantee they will be able to reopen when the crisis passes.

“It is extremely difficult at the present time,” said Mr Madderson. “Most of the independent forecourts are running between 65 and 85 per cent below normal volumes and are really struggling to keep up.”

He said if they had passed on the full saving of the cost of fuel it could have been 1,000 filling stations closed for business rather than 100.

The AA stopped short of calling for immediate price decreases given the pressure on petrol stations, but fuel price spokesman Luke Bosdet said questions could be asked once the virus is defeated.

“It is likely that once Covid-19 is defeated there will be calls for a review of UK pump prices during the current oil and commodity fuel price crash,” he added.