Litre of diesel 25p more than for petrol

The extra cost of diesel compared to petrol has reached a new high of nearly 25p per litre.

Latest Government figures show the average price of a litre of diesel is 188.9p.

That is 24.5p more expensive than petrol, which stands at 164.4p per litre.

Analysis by the PA news agency found this is the largest price difference in records dating back to June 2003.

Diesel has typically cost around 5p per litre more than petrol since then.

Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, warned that diesel could become even more expensive in the short-term.

He said: “The situation for diesel drivers is grim and unlikely to improve in the weeks ahead. In fact, it could deteriorate.

“Already, drivers of average-sized diesel cars are paying around £105 every time they fill up, about £14 more than those people with similar-sized petrol cars at the neighbouring pump.”