Royal Dutch Shell reignited anger over excessive profits today after revealing it made $27.6 billion (£13.9 billion sterling) in 2007 - a new record for a UK company.
The figure - equivalent to more than £1.5 million an hour - prompted a fresh call from unions for a windfall tax on oil companies.
It also comes at a time when motorists are paying forecourt petrol prices of more than £1 a litre.
Royal Dutch Shell's profits haul for 2007 was 9% higher than a year ago and comes after the price of crude oil rose towards $100 a barrel.
