THE world's second largest oil company BP yesterday announced record first-half profits of £5.99bn as it continues to benefit from rising oil prices.

The figure, which is 29 per cent higher than this time last year, means the oil firm generates profits at the rate of almost £1.4m-per-hour.

Unions last night accused the firm of being greedy and called for better pay packages for workers.

Graham Tran, of union Amicus, said: "It's incredible to consider that a company earning £6bn in profit in just six months are paying their offshore workers so little that they are finding it almost impossible to recruit and retain offshore workers in the North Sea.

"It would take a roustabout oil rig worker about four years to earn what BP's chief executive Lord Browne earns in a week.