Speaking to the BBC, the foundation said that UK refineries were struggling to cope with growing take-up of diesel cars and said that at the current rate of growth diesel would be four times more popular than petrol by 2030.

It added that growing reliance on countries including Russia and India to supply the fuel could leave motorists "at the mercy of the global market" in future.

"Even if we are not in conflict with those countries that control the taps, they might simply decide they need more of what they produce for their own markets," RAC Foundation director Steve Gooding told the BBC.

"If supply is interrupted, then at best we'll see sharp rises in forecourt prices and, at worst, there is the unlikely but real possibility of pumps running dry."

Last year saw diesel cars account for 50.1% of all new car registrations, with petrol at 47.8% and alternatively fuelled vehicles at 2.1%.

The news comes as Defra announces a consultation on plans to restrict diesel use in UK towns and cities to cut down on nitrogen dioxide emissions.