Diesel prices soar to three-year high as drivers warned of further misery at pumps - 'No end in sight'

This is a staggering 20.2 per cent increase in price since February 28, when Iran's Supreme Leader was killed in an airstrike amid growing tensions between Iran, Israel and the United States.

Almost 29p per litre has been added to the price of diesel since the start of the month, sending average diesel bills soaring.

Diesel drivers are now facing the highest fuel prices for more than three years in mid-January 2023, with a tank now costing £94, a staggering £16 more than at the start of the conflict.

Simon Williams, head of policy at the RAC, said diesel vehicle owners were facing a "far worse" situation than petrol drivers.

"Given how many rely on their cars, households are really feeling the effects of the conflict in the Middle East," Mr Williams said.

Petrol drivers are also facing higher costs, although they are not rising as rapidly as diesel.

Since the end of February, the average price of unleaded petrol has risen by more than 14p per litre to 147.19p.

The average owner of a family car with a 55-litre tank now costs £81 - the highest since early June 2024.

The price of oil has remained above $100 (£75) for more than a week, and with tensions continuing to flare between the embattled nations, further hikes could be seen.

Mr Williams warned that motorists would be in for a "rough ride" at the pumps in the days before Easter, with "no end to price increases in sight".

While US President Donald Trump has paused plans to strike key Iranian power facilities, tensions remain between the two nations, despite "productive" talks to end the war.

Iranian sources have claimed that no talks have taken place, casting doubts over whether the conflict in the Middle East will end.

The Strait of Hormuz also remains a key concern for experts around the world, with the pinchpoint being closed by Iran, suffocating the global export of oil.

Mr Williams added: "With the price of petrol likely to go above 150p a litre in the next week and diesel heading to 180p, it's looking like it will be the most expensive Easter on the roads since the early days of the war in Ukraine in 2022."

Although prices remain high, drivers are not paying as much as they were for petrol and diesel in the aftermath of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

In the months following the attack on Ukraine, global oil and gas costs soared, which had a knock-on effect on the price of petrol and diesel.

Motorists at the pumps were facing average costs as high as 190p for petrol and £2 for diesel, while some motorway service stations around the UK were charging as much as £2.20.

Amid the latest conflict, only a handful of motorway service stations have increased costs to above £2, although experts predict that prices will continue to rise.