Drivers hit by biggest jump in petrol price for 18 years

THE cost of filling up a typical family car has soared above £70 as drivers have been hit with the biggest monthly rise in petrol prices for 18 years.

The average cost of petrol has surged by p in a month, adding £3.29 to the price of a tank. Unleaded rose from 123.43p to 129.41p, with the cost of filling up a 55-litre car up to £71.18.

Diesel owners faced an even bigger rise, according to the RAC which called it a ‘hellish’ month for motorists.

The average price of a litre of diesel rose by .12p from 12 .27p to 132.39p, increasing the cost of filling up by £3.37 to £72.81.

For diesel this was the second worst rise since the start of 2000 but was some way behind the 8.43p a litre increase ten years ago.

The price hikes were even more extreme at motorway service stations. The cost of filling up a family diesel car at a motorway forecourt has soared by £3. 8 to £81.29 as the price per litre jumped by . 9p to 147.80p.

It has not been much better for owners of petrol cars, with the price of unleaded rising .37p to 144.75p. This means the cost of a tank has surged by £3.50 to £79. 1.