ANGER AS BP PROFITS SOAR BY 148%

The company's mammoth earnings for the July to September period is equivalent to around £70 million a day and a whopping 148% above the same period last year.

BP's record performance came on the back of crude oil prices which hit a new peak above 147 US dollars a barrel in mid-July.

The results shattered City expectations but drew fire from union leaders and politicians - prompting fresh calls for a windfall tax.

Labour MP John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington) accused BP of "profiteering" and added: "I will be calling in Parliament for price controls and profit windfall taxes."

Tony Woodley, joint leader of Unite, said oil companies were "banking money faster than they can count it".

"A windfall tax on the oil giants would help six million people heat their homes this winter and would send the clear message that profiteering from the basics of life is not just immoral but will not be tolerated by our Government," he said.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown urged energy companies to pass on falls in the price of oil to consumers through reduced prices for petrol at the pump and fuel to heat homes.

Speaking at 10 Downing Street, Mr Brown did not directly address the issue of BP's profits, but told reporters: "I notice that some companies have brought their prices down and I encourage others to do so to reflect the fact that the price of oil is now below 60 dollars when it used to be, for a few weeks, nearly 150 dollars.

"There has been more than a halving in the price of oil and, just as when the price goes up people see it immediately reflected in the petrol pump prices, we want to see the falling price reflected in the petrol pump prices, and we are determined to see that happens."