Pump prices rise at record rate as Iran war bites just when families drive off for Easter - with cost of diesel at one station nearing £3 per litre

Prices at the pumps are surging as the war in the Middle East intensifies costs for motorists - with diesel at one petrol station now approaching £3 per litre.

Millions of drivers are embarking on Easter getaway trips in the UK today despite the soaring cost of fuel – while others face rail shutdowns and packed airports.

Oil prices - which have a major impact on the cost of wholesale fuel - have hurtled upwards in response to Iran's stranglehold on tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz, following US and Israeli-led military strikes on the country.

The RAC says the average price of a litre of diesel at UK forecourts hit 184.2p, up by 29 per cent since the war started on February 28.

Average petrol prices have reached 153.7p per litre, a rise of 16 per cent over the same period.

One fuel station in Chelsea, west London. was seen selling diesel for 299.9p per litre, with the equivalent rate for petrol set at 288.9p.

Despite the surging costs, the AA estimates 21.7million journeys across Britain have been planned for today - making it busier than any day of the four-day bank holiday weekend.

And motorists face the busiest Easter on the roads since 2022, the RAC said, amid diesel prices soaring 29 per cent and petrol up 16 per cent since the Iran war began.

Long queues for fuel are seen at a Costco petrol station in Manchester today

Fuel prices are shown on the pump at 299.9p per litre of diesel at the Gulf Chelsea Cloisters service station in central London on Wednesday

Thousands of train journeys will be affected as Network Rail carries out more than 270 upgrade projects, including a six-day West Coast Main Line shutdown.

And the Met Office warned of possible travel disruption as northern England and Scotland are set to be hit with winds gusting at up to 90mph this weekend.

Some 12.5million Brits are planning a UK holiday trip for this weekend, while 2million people from the UK will travel abroad between tomorrow and Easter Monday.

Recording the prices now being charged at one petrol station in the capital, a motorist posted on X: 'Being charged 299.9p per litre of diesel at a central London petrol station today? Unfortunately NOT an April Fool.' 

All UK forecourts have been required to report price changes to the Government's Fuel Finder database within half an hour of a change since February 2 - with the data used by third-party fuel-price apps and websites.

Pump prices rocketed at a record rate last month amid the war, analysis has shown.

Average petrol prices surged by 20p a litre in March while diesel soared by 40p - meaning the cost of filling up an average 55-litre tank in a family car rose £11 for petrol and £22 for diesel between March 1 and 31.

Separate data shows drivers have collectively spent almost £600million more than they would have done had pump prices remained the same level before the conflict - netting Chancellor Rachel Reeves about £100million in extra VAT receipts.

However, despite growing calls, Labour is refusing to scrap its planned fuel duty hike which would add another £3 to the cost of a fill-up from this September.

The RAC's Simon Williams said: 'March has been truly unprecedented – fuel prices have never risen this fast in a single month.'

Read More Iran threatens US with 'crushing' attacks and launches strikes across the Middle East : LIVE

Richard Smith, managing director of the Road Haulage Association, said rocketing pump prices were hurting businesses and delivery firms as well as private motorists.

He said: 'Rising fuel prices continue to be a huge challenge for HGV, coach and van businesses who already typically operate on thin margins.

'The knock-on effect will be felt through the supply chain and by households as costs are passed on.

'We're clear - scrap the fuel duty hike. This isn't an industry concern; it's a national one.'

Despite the spiralling costs, drivers could still save themselves hundreds of pounds a year just by filling up at a different petrol station, thanks to the Daily Mail's exclusive real-time price map.

Using live data from 15 major fuel companies, including Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's and BP, our team have created a tool so you can find the cheapest fill-up near you.

This shows the prices charged at a Shell garage in Pimlico, central London, on Wednesday

Research from when the tool went live last year found the average driver could save £10 a fill-up, or nearly £200 a year, by switching to a station that is 20p cheaper per litre – the difference between the cheapest and most expensive pumps in one area. 

As the Middle East conflict continues, UK drivers have been urged to consider cutting out 'non-essential journeys' because fuel prices are rising as the cost of oil soars.

To use our interactive map, simply type your postcode and hit enter or click the magnifying glass to search.

By clicking the 'petrol' or 'diesel' button you can also choose which fuel type is highlighted.

You can also adjust the search radius by moving the blue slider to between one and 10 miles each side of your location. After adjusting the radius you will have to tap search again to refresh the results.

The map will then zoom to your location and highlight the cheapest petrol station (or stations) for your chosen fuel type in green. The most expensive station(s) will be highlighted in red.

Click on a marker to see more details about a petrol station, including its address, and the prices at both standard and premium petrol and diesel pumps.

You can also see information in a list view by tapping on the 'list' tab. This view will highlight the cheapest petrol station at the top in green.

When you select an item in the list, the map will open on that petrol station.

Each retailer separately updates their fuel prices together on their own schedule, but most appear to do so once or twice a day.

However, as we do not control when retailers update their numbers we cannot guarantee their accuracy. You should always check the price at the forecourt before paying for petrol.

The figures come from 15 retailers participating in the Competition and Markets Authority's temporary pricing data scheme, which covers around 40 per cent of UK forecourts and 65 per cent of fuel sold.

AA president Edmund King, who issued the advice, also suggested motorists should change their driving style to be more fuel efficient and therefore save money.

Data compiled from pump price comparison website PetrolPrices.com previously showed a litre of diesel costing up to 217.0p at some forecourts in rural Scotland.

The UK's most expensive petrol was being sold for 199.9p per litre at Avenue Garage in Northwich, Cheshire.

The most expensive motorway service area for diesel was said to be Euro Garages' Rivington Services on the M61 in Bolton, Greater Manchester, where the price reached 200.9p per litre.

Welcome Break's Woodall Services on the M1 in Sheffield had the highest price for petrol, at 189.9p per litre.

The RAC Foundation estimated that rises in pump prices since the conflict began led to motorists paying an additional £544million for petrol and diesel - £409million for diesel and £135million for petrol.

The figures are based on average daily pump price rises and last year's fuel consumption rate.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump claimed near-victory in the Iran war during a White House address to his nation last night that sent oil prices soaring and global stocks sliding.

The US President spoke for just under 20 minutes and didn't announce any major developments - including whether ground troops would need to be deployed in the Gulf or who would take over leadership of the pariah state. 

Instead, he repeated that Operation Epic Fury would conclude 'shortly' - claiming the US's military objectives were 'nearing completion' before vowing to bomb Iran 'back to the Stone Ages' if it there were no deal.

Amid the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz, he again urged countries such as the UK who 'can't get fuel' to find 'courage' and 'go to the Strait and just take it.'

Shortly after the President spoke, Brent crude oil jumped 5 per cent to $106 a barrel while Asian markets slumped.

Addressing Iran, Mr Trump insisted: 'We are going to hit them extremely hard over the next two or three weeks, we're going to bring them back to the Stone Ages where they belong.

He challenged US allies to go and 'take' the Strait of Hormuz, proclaiming that the US did not need oil from the ships that had been blocked by Iran since the conflict began in late February. 

Mr Trump said: 'I have a suggestion. Number one, buy oil from the United States of America - we have plenty, we have so much. 

'And number two, build up some delayed coverage - should have done it before, should have done it with us as we asked.

'Go to the Strait and just take it. Protect it. Use it for yourselves.'

The Liberal Democrats today called for a 10p cut in fuel duty to help motorists deal with the rising cost of petrol and diesel caused by the Iran war.

The party's leader Sir Ed Davey also called for a 10 per cent cut in rail fares to help travellers with cost-of-living pressures.

Sir Ed's offer to deal with living costs comes after other opposition parties have set out their plans to lower the price of petrol and home energy bills.

The Conservatives have called for VAT on energy bills to be removed for the next three years, while Reform UK pledged to reduce VAT on fuel and scrap green levies on energy bills.

Business minister Kate Dearden today assured consumers there were 'no current supply issues' for fuel in the UK and said people could continue filling up their cars.

She told Sky News: 'There are no current supply issues.

'But, of course, we are assessing the situation and governments, of course, plan for contingencies as well.'

She added: 'People should, over the Easter weekend, continue to fill up their cars and take those journeys, if they are going for a short trip abroad over the coming days, or whatever plans they have.'