PETROL prices have reached an eight year high of £1.36 a litre as motorists continue to battle a fuel crisis.
Latest government figures show that a litre of fuel has now reached 136.1p a litre and 139.2p a litre for diesel.
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It comes as many drivers are still struggling to fill their cars, more than a week after forecourts started to run dry.
The Government produces weekly figures on average fuel prices across the country.
The cost of petrol has increased from 113.5p a year ago, while diesel is up from 118.24p.
But there are reports of some forecourts charging considerably more.
Some motorists have accused petrol retailers of profiteering amid the nationwide fuel shortage, with reports of some forecourts charging almost £3 a litre.
Howard Cox, founder of FairFuelUK, said: “Drivers are being hit from all directions. Government’s inability to resolve the fuel shortage it helped cause, oil prices rocketing, and opportunistic profiteering the greedy fuel supply chain.”
This week the Army was brought in to deliver fuel to petrol stations as the situation was described as “absolutely horrendous”.
Nearly 200 soldiers are delivering fuel as a shortage of lorry drivers means it is not getting to petrol stations.
The shortage is believed to be particularly serious in London and the South East, according to the petrol Retailers Association.
Cox added: “In this month’s Budget, the Chancellor must cut fuel duty to give motorists and hauliers a break.”
As well as panic-buying and stockpiling, the rising wholesale cost of fuel is causing price to rise at the pumps.
The Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) said that new stock being brought to petrol stations is being purchased at higher wholesale levels, which means pump prises have risen up to 3 pence a litre.
It said these rises were not “gouging” or “profiteering” but a “result of global factors converging at the same time”.
The price of crude oil has now reached more than $81 a barrel, up from just $14.64 in April.
? Read our petrol crisis live blog for live updates on the crisis
A number of factors are behind this including strong demand from Asia, lower supply from Russia, and a better-than-expected economic recovery after the pandemic also putting pressure on the industry.
While experts insist there is no actual shortage of fuel in the UK, a lack of HGV drivers means it is not being transported.
Motorists are being urged not to buy more petrol than they need and not to stockpile.
The current legal limit for at-home petrol storage without a special license currently stands at 30 litres, so drivers are being urged not to stockpile.
Has this happened before?
The last time the UK experienced serious fuel shortages was in 2000 when protests over rising prices led to many forecourts running dry.
Farmers and lorry drivers blockaded refineries meaning fuel could not
be transported to petrol stations.
Petrol retailers began rationing their remaining supplies as panicked motorists tried to stockpile.
Schools closed, the NHS was cast into an emergency state, and Royal Mail said it only had enough fuel for one more day of deliveries.
Where can I get fuel today?
Drivers who don’t urgently need to fill up are urged to steer clear of petrol stations.
However, if you do need to make a trip to the pump, it is worth checking local reports to find out which stations near you are operating as normal.
You may need to visit several stations to find the fuel you need, but deliveries will continue to be made to maintain supplies and keep cars running.
Ensure you check individual station opening times, as these vary across the country.
And also remember that it may be necessary to drive slightly further than normal in order to fill up.
Apps such as Waze and Google Maps can show you the fastest route to your nearest forecourt, and we’ve looked at how you can find where to get fuel near you.
Boris Johnson says lorry driver shortage is a global issue as Brits struggle to get fuel from petrol stations
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