DRIVERS helped to swell the Government's coffers by more than £22 billion last year just by visiting a petrol station.

This phenomenal figure is part of an increase of £4 billion every year since Labour came to power in 1997, according to the latest facts from the motor industry.

Thanks to motorists, 2001 was another bumper year for Chancellor Gordon Brown. He took more than £40 billion from driver's pockets and commercial vehicle operators.

While tax on petrol remains the golden goose, hard-pressed motorists face a host of other taxes too.

Vehicle Excise Duty generated £4.3 billion for the Treasury last year, while company-car drivers forked out a further £3.7 billion.

The DVLA has raised a further £595 million with the sales of personalised registration numbers.

Taxes which result from the motor industry amount to 11 per cent of the Government's total revenue from taxes.