Think of a profit and double it

No matter how much the economy and world financial markets are in meltdown we can always rely on the good old British businessman to keep traditions alive, such as ripping off the consumer.

With frost forecast, like many people with a greenhouse, I popped in a DIY store for some paraffin to stoke up the old heaters to find the price had gone up by a staggering 20 per cent in 12 months. I won't say which store but it begins with H, ends in E and has eight letters.

This time last year paraffin was an already eyewatering £4.99 and is this morning I found the price had increased to £5.99 for just four litres which is a staggering £1.50 a litre. Nice one H******E.