PETROL prices have soared to their highest level for nearly two years.

According to the latest Government figures, a litre of the fuel costs an average of £1.28 at UK forecourts.

Analysis from the PA new agency shows it has not been this expensive since August 2019.

Diesel costs an average of £1.32 per litre, which is an amount not seen since January 2020.

Fuel sank to as low as £1.05 per litre of petrol and £1.12 per litre of diesel in May 2020, when the global shutdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic led to a collapse in the value of oil.

The cost of filling up a typical 55-litre petrol family car has since risen by around £13, while a full tank of diesel is approximately £11 more.

With a bit of forward planning, however, you can save some pennies on each litre of fuel - which all adds up on the cost of a full tank.

7 top tips for drivers to reduce petrol consumption and save you cash

 

Here are the ten cheapest places in the Colchester area to fill up on petrol at the moment:

  • Asda, Turner Road

Price - 123.7p

  • Esso, Peartree Road, Stanway

124.8p

  • Sainsbury's Stanway, Western Approach

124.9p

  • Little Bentley Services, Colchester Road

125.8p

  • Tesco Extra, Highwoods Square

126.9p

  • Shell Ardleigh, Colchester Road

126.9p

  • Tesco Hythe, Greenstead Road

126.9p

  • BP Stanway, London Road

127.9p

  • BP Weeley

127.9p

  • Texaco, Mersea Road

128.9p

Luke Bosdet, the AA’s fuel price spokesman, said: “Oil prices rising back above 70 US dollars a barrel casts a shadow over staycation travel, with petrol prices at their highest for 20 months.

“The speed of the price rises at a time when drivers are beginning to travel much longer distances is a post-lockdown shock for many.”

RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said drivers are “having to endure relentless pump price increases”.

He described the timing as “pretty frustrating”, due to the rise in leisure trips.

“It doesn’t need to be this way,” Mr Williams insisted. “Given that wholesale petrol prices show there is scope for a 2p cut in prices, retailers really shouldn’t be increasing them.

“Diesel drivers have good reason to feel particularly aggrieved too as the wholesale price is very similar to that of petrol.

“Sadly, it looks as though many retailers are now taking a bigger margin than ever with every litre of fuel they’re selling, meaning drivers’ cash isn’t going as far each time they visit the forecourt.”