Fuel prices in Shropshire hit new high at 150.9p a litre

Fuel prices in Shropshire have hit a new record high – with some pumps charging 150.9p a litre, it emerged today. The AA said today the price is breaking records.

At the Shell garage at the M54 service station at Shifnal a litre of diesel was today being sold for 150.9p per litre.

Just three miles away the price at the Shell station at Stirchley was 142.9p.

The price of diesel at Quatt Service Station near Bridgnorth was 148p, at the Esso at Cross Houses, near Shrewsbury, it was 143p and at the service station in Cosford it was 142p.

Meanwhile, supermarket chains Morrison's in Shrewsbury and Sainsbury's in Telford were both selling it for 139.9p a litre.

The AA today confirmed that the average price of diesel has broken the previous record of 143.04p set in May last year.

A monthly report published by the AA states: "As happened last year, trouble in the Middle East has spurred speculator activity in the oil and fuel markets."

And there is more misery down the road after the Chancellor George Osborne said he was unlikely to intervene to stop a 3p increase in fuel duty coming into effect.

The price rise is putting even more pressure on the small independent garages.

Ian Tristham, who owns the Quatt Service Station, said: "It's not very good at all being independent at the moment.

"Supermarkets are just messing it all up – they are running the country now."