FAMILIES are set to be the main beneficiaries of fuel discount offers launched by three of Britain's big four supermarkets ahead of next month's Jubilee celebrations, the Automobile Association has claimed.

Tesco and Sainsbury's both offered 5p off the price of a litre of petrol or diesel for customers who spend more than £50 in store from yesterday, while Morrisons offered a 12p per litre discount for those spending more than £60 on their shopping.

The tactics are thought to be designed to cash in on household spending as people stock up ahead of the Jubilee celebrations between June 2-5, and comes after Asda triggered a fuel price war among supermarkets by cutting the price of petrol and diesel by 8p per litre as the wholesale cost of oil fell.

The discounts were welcomed by the AA yesterday, but the motoring organisation warned that single people and pensioners were unlikely to benefit as they typically spend less than £50 on their weekly shop.

Luke Bosdet, spokesman for the AA, said: "It's a battle to get the Jubilee spend. If you're spending £50 or £60 it can add up to a big saving. But for the single person or pensioner who spends £30 to £40 on their shopping, they will miss out unless they stock up on alcohol or something like that."