Cost of petrol at all-time high, says AA

The cost of filling up at the pumps has risen to a new high, the AA said today.

The average cost of petrol has gone up to 142.48p a litre, while the average price for diesel stands at 147.88p. But in parts of Shropshire and Mid Wales the price of fuel is even higher than the national average, with garage owners blaming dwindling fuel supplies for the rise.

Petrol is 145.9p a litre at Shawbury Petrol Station and owner Graham Wilde said he has been forced to put the price up because the tankers were failing to get to him.

He said: "Apparently there is still a problem from the panic buying a few weeks ago and they haven't yet got stocks back up again.

"It isn't me, it is the companies passing on the cost, it is supply and demand.

"I have a delivery tomorrow but they are only bringing 4,000 litres instead of the usual 10,000, they reckon they just haven't got it and they are having to ration it between petrol stations."

At the Total garage at Prees Heath, the price of petrol is 142.9p and diesel is 147.9p.

Manager Nikki Groves said they had not had too many comments about it.

She said: "Customer levels have fallen a bit, but that was because of the crisis over the last couple of weeks. We haven't heard any grumbles from customers about the price."

Meanwhile in Powys, the recent fuel crisis has also pushed prices up.

At W R Davies's Garage in Pool Road, Newtown, unleaded has hit 144.9 pence a litre and diesel 148.9p.

Many motorists said they were struggling to cope financially with the increase in prices.

John Davies, a van driver from Newtown, said: "If the cost of fuel keeps going up like it has been, people just won't be able to afford to run a vehicle and it will be unfortunate for people like myself, who rely on travelling for work."

Tower Services petrol station in Cheshire Street, Market Drayton, is offering petrol at 143.9p and diesel 147.9p.

Managing director David Knight said the price has not changed now for a few weeks.

And in Ludlow yesterday prices for unleaded petrol stood at 145.9p and diesel at 147.9p.