Residents in rural areas, who tend to earn lower wages, rely on slower roads to get around, often travelling far greater distances in their daily lives than those living in towns and cities. The daily commute to work, and even the school run, can eat a huge hole in salaries.

Average prices at the pumps this week rose to nearly £1.11 for unleaded petrol and just over £1.21 for diesel, with costs continuing to climb every day.

And as local businesses which rely on the roads to transport staff and goods begin to feel the strain, householders are feeling the pinch.

West Norfolk Council leader Nick Daubney said: "Fuel prices are real worry for rural areas and I think the Government does not always appreciate this. I feel people in rural areas get overlooked and it's low income people who really suffer. The reality is people in rural areas need to travel more."

Mr Daubney said residents were forced to travel to access services, such as schools, shops and health centres, and the shutting of rural post offices was "disgraceful" and would add to the need for independent travel.

The elderly and poor are at the front line, with fixed incomes, rocketing energy prices and no alternative to using oil for heating.

An estimated one-and-a-half million households in the UK, many in rural areas such as West Norfolk, do not have access to the gas network and many rely on deliveries of heating oil, which is often paid for on delivery.

Prices last week shot up to just over £303 for 500 litres and nearly £504 for 900 litres, according to price comparison website Boilerjuice.com and five per cent of this is tax.

Costs have almost doubled from last year, when 500 litres cost an average of around £150 and 900 litres would have cost less than £300. Around 500 litres would last an average three-bed detached home about eight weeks for heat and hot water.

Prices fall the more oil you buy, but many people on a fixed income cannot afford to buy large amounts in advance, meaning they pay more in the long run.

Rising fuel prices have seen the number of heating oil thefts soar across the county, with Norfolk Police receiving 28 reports of oil theft from homes, farms and goods yards in March alone.

Many elderly people cut back on heating in a bid to beat the bills, but failing to keep warm during the colder months can lead to serious health problems, including hypothermia and even heart attacks.

National charity Age Concern estimates two-and-a-quarter million older households live in fuel poverty, with 250,000 pushed in to fuel poverty by the price hikes this year alone.

Mrs Sue Lowe, executive manager for the West Norfolk branch, said the organisation had noticed an increase in the number of people needing help.

"Older people approach us saying they can't afford to meet the bills and asking where they can get help. They are very worried and feel disillusioned.