Fuel rations and free buses: How countries are responding to rising oil prices

The war in Iran and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz - through which around 20% of the world's oil and natural gas flows - has seen fuel costs rise sharply in the past month. With the disruption expected to have a lasting impact on prices, governments around the world have begun introducing measures to limit the impact on consumers and the economy.

Why did US and Israel attack Iran and how long could the war last? How the Hormuz closure could affect food, medicines and smartphones While most of the UK's electricity is generated through natural gas and renewables, petrol prices have reached an 18-month high due to rising global oil prices, according to motoring organisation the RAC.

The government has said it is primed to step in if there are signs petrol sellers are profiteering from the crisis - something the Petrol Retailers Association has denied is the case. Meanwhile, low-income households that use heating oil will be eligible to access a £53m package announced by the prime minister in March to help with costs.

Taxes on petrol and diesel were cut as part of several measures introduced by the government to reduce energy costs. Under the €235m (£203m) package, the suspension of the National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA) levy will also reduce the price of home-heating oil.

The measures also include a VAT-inclusive cut in excise on green diesel, while heating payments to social welfare recipients will be extended for four weeks. In two Australian states, public transport will be made free in order to incentivise people not to drive.

Travel on Victoria's trains, trams and buses will be free from Tuesday and throughout April, while commuters in Tasmania will not need to pay for buses, coaches and ferries from Monday until the end of June. Tasmania's transport minister also said that paid-for school buses would be made free, saving those who use them A$20 (£10.40) a week.

The price of petrol has risen sharply in Australia since the conflict in the Middle East began, with the national average at A$2.38 a litre on 22 March, up from around A$2.09 at the start of the war, according to figures from the Australian Institute of Petroleum.

Egypt - which relies heavily on imported oil - has introduced a raft of temporary measures aimed at bringing fuel consumption down and keeping public finances in check. Shops, restaurants and cafes have been told to close at 21:00 each night for the next month, while street lights and roadside advertising is being dimmed.

Hotels and tourist attractions are exempt. Non-essential workers have been told to work from home one day a week to lower the number of commutes. The Egyptian government has raised petrol prices and fares on public transport to limit the impact of the conflict on its public finances.

It has also slowed down large, energy-intensive state projects and cut government vehicle fuel allowances by nearly a third. The Philippines has declared a national emergency, with its government offering subsidies to transport drivers, reducing ferry services and implementing a four-day work week for civil servants.

With 98% of its oil imported from the Gulf, the Asian nation has seen the cost of diesel and petrol more than double.