As half term ends and many people are returning to school and work, those across the North East will be looking for cheap fuel to enjoy an outing or prepare for the week ahead commute.

With petrol prices predicted to rise by the RAC, many are on the lookout for the cheapest places to refuel in the face of high fuel costs.

With unleaded petrol (including VAT) currently costing an average of 142.9p per litre and diesel (including VAT) costing 151.30p according to the RAC, we have compiled a list of some of the cheapest petrol stations in the region.

On Wednesday (February 21), the RAC confirmed petrol had risen by 3.2p and diesel had increased by 4p over three weeks.

Petrol’s price has declined over the last three months, falling by 17p from 157p to below 140p in mid-January.

Meanwhile, diesel’s price had fallen by 15p from 163p in early October to just below 148p in late January.

RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said: “News that fuel prices have bottomed out and are now on the rise again is bad news for drivers, and possibly the economy and future inflation rates, too.

“While we’re not expecting prices to shoot up dramatically, it appears that oil is trading up, which in the absence of a stronger pound, means wholesale fuel costs more for retailers to buy in. The result is higher prices at the pump and more expense for the everyday driver.

“The Red Sea attacks by Houthi rebels, which are forcing tankers to avoid the Suez Canal and instead go round South Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, are clearly playing their part, but so have global refinery maintenance closures, the start of America’s driving season and UK retailers buying more fuel stocks ahead of the Budget to protect against a possible fuel duty hike by the Chancellor.

“Despite these factors, we ought not to see forecourt prices go up too much more from where they are today, but a lot depends on how much margin the biggest retailers decide to take.

“Positively for drivers, supermarket margins are lower than they were in January, but they are still significantly higher than they were prior to the pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“If a ‘new normal’ supermarket margin were to settle around 7p, drivers would get a fairer deal. Last year, RAC data shows they benefitted from an average mark-up of 10p on every litre of fuel sold as opposed to just under 6p in 2019.”

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Here is a list of all the cheapest fuel prices in County Durham, Darlington and Teesside (as of February 24), according to price comparison website PetrolPrices:

Durham

  • Bells Hill Service Station - unleaded: 139.7p, diesel: 149.7p
  • Tesco Durham Extra - unleaded: 141.9p, diesel: 151.9p
  • Red Tiles Service Centre - unleaded: 141.9p, diesel: 151.9p
  • Plawsworth Service Station- unleaded: 142.8p, diesel: 151.8p
  • Sainburys  Durham - unleaded: 142.9p, diesel: 151.9p

Darlington

  • Newton Park Service Station - unleaded: 141.9p, diesel: 151.9p
  • Sainsbury's Darlington - unleaded: 142.9p, diesel: 151.9p
  • Shell Haughton Road - unleaded: 142.9p, diesel: 152.9p
  • Sadberge Service Station - unleaded: 142.9p, diesel: 152.9p
  • Vanhoe Service Station - unleaded: 142.9p, diesel: 152.9p

Bishop Auckland

  • Park Head Service Station - unleaded: 139.7p, diesel: 149.7p
  • Etherley Moor Garage - unleaded: 139.7p, diesel: 148.7p
  • Oakley Service Station - unleaded: 139.9p, diesel: 148.9p
  • Bridge End Garage - unleaded: 139.9p, diesel: 149.9p
  • Sainsbury's Bishop Auckland - unleaded: 140.9p, diesel: 149.9p

Middlesbrough

  • Tudor Lodge Service Station - unleaded: 138.9p, diesel: 148.9p
  • ASDA Thornaby - unleaded: 139.7p, diesel: 150.7p
  • Eston Service Station - unleaded: 139.9p, diesel: 149.9p
  • ASDA Stockton-on-Tees Automat - unleaded: 140.7p, diesel: 150.7p
  • Morrisons Stockton - unleaded: 141.7p, diesel: 151.7p