ANGER OVER PUMP sPIKe

PUMP prices have hit a new high, despite wholesale costs peaking. According to motoring group the AA, the average for petrol reached 187.51p a litre on Thursday, with diesel averaging 194.17p a litre. However, the AA said wholesale costs that had risen as much as 11p a litre in a fortnight actually fell back more than 5p by Thursday.

It added: “Drivers should be noting a drop in prices at the pumps. The failure to cut prices this weekend will be shameful.”