the president insisted the US could reduce its need for imported oil and improve safety.

And he urged Congress to back proposals to end taxpayer subsidies to highly profitable oil companies.

Using his address to tell Americans that he understood their concerns about rising prices, President Obama focused particularly on the price of fuel, which has spiked in recent months.

US consumers have historically enjoyed cheap fuel, but have seen prices reach $4 per gallon (£0.65 per litre) in recent months.