Filling stations across the region have seen the cost to fill up rise dramatically in recent days as petrol and diesel customers are forced to hand over more cash.

It comes barely a week after drivers in the region were warned that petrol and diesel prices could soar above £1.60 per litre amid the Ukraine crisis.

Read more: How fuel prices in the North East could rocket as Russia invades Ukraine

Last Thursday (February 24), drivers were told to expect record highs as retailers are forced to pass on further rises in wholesale costs to the customer.

The situation at Shell Grindon in Sunderland Pictures: NORTHERN ECHO

And today (March 4), it appeared as though those fears were confirmed as a number of petrol stations could be seen advertising fuel at record prices.

In Sunderland, the cost to fill up at two petrol stations near the city centre stood at £1.66 per litre for diesel and £1.55 for unleaded.

Read more: Durham Uni student rescued kittens while fleeing Kyiv, Ukraine

The Shell Garage in Grindon, and Esso Garage at the Barnes, could be seen with raised prices as both forecourts appeared fairly quiet at around 12pm.

The Esso garage at the Barnes Picture: NORTHERN ECHO

However, just along the road from the Esso at the Barnes, another Esso garage on Durham Road was slightly cheaper, with diesel at £1.60 per litre.

On social media, drivers reported seeing the cost of diesel hit £1.70 per litre at town centre filling stations including a Shell garage in Hartlepool.

Meanwhile, some 40 miles down the road, the cost to fill up appeared somewhat cheaper with one filling station around 12p cheaper.

Read more: County Durham dad taking supplies to Ukrainian refugees

Morrison's at Teesside Park, which is normally slightly cheaper than big brand names, was advertising petrol much less at £1.50 per litre and diesel at £1.52.

The filling station at Teesside Park Picture: NORTHERN ECHO

'Russia’s actions will now push petrol pump prices'

Last Thursday, Simon Williams of the RAC, blamed Russia's invasion for a significant rise in the cost of fuel as the price of crude oil shot up to the highest level in eight years.

Originally forecasting the price of fuel to hit £1.50 on average, he said: “Russia’s actions will now push petrol pump prices up to £1.50 very soon.

“The question then becomes where will this stop and how much can drivers take, just as many are using their cars more and returning to workplaces.

“If the oil price was to increase to 110 US dollars, there’s a very real danger the average price of petrol would hit £1.55 a litre.

“This would cause untold financial difficulties for many people who depend on their cars for getting to work and running their lives as it would skyrocket the cost of a full tank to £85.

“At 120 US dollars a barrel – without any change to the exchange rate which is currently at 1.35 US dollars – we would be looking £1.60 a litre and £88 for a full tank.”

Oil prices have spiked globally due to concerns over the reliability of supplies since Russian troops invaded Ukraine last week.

Rishi urged to cut VAT on fuel

Rishi Sunak Picture: PA

Today (March 4), the RAC called on Chancellor Rishi Sunak to cut VAT on fuel as drivers continued to be hit by record pump prices.

Simon Williams of the RAC again said: “This latest round of rises means the price of a litre of unleaded has now gone up by nearly 4p in just a week, adding £1.86 to the cost of filling a 55-litre family car.

“Diesel has gone up by a similar amount over the same period, adding over £2 to the cost of filling up.

“Once again, the high cost of oil is the main factor contributing to the prices drivers are paying, with a barrel now almost at the 120 US dollars mark, something that hasn’t happened since the spring of 2012.

“The RAC is now calling on the Treasury to look at an emergency, temporary cut in the VAT rate levied on fuel to ease some of the pain drivers are facing and to better protect them from upcoming rises.” 

What the garages have to say

The garage in Grindon near Sunderland Picture: NORTHERN ECHO

Responding to prices seen in parts of the North East today, Shell said its prices are in line with the market.

A spokesperson said: "Shell is only able to control prices at the sites we own; of our UK network around one half is owned by independent dealers, who set their own prices.

"Shell is prevented by law from telling dealer groups what to charge their customers for fuel. Our company-owned sites are priced in line with the market."

The owner of the Esso garage in Sunderland, which was pictured with diesel at £1.66 per litre, could not be reached for comment.

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