G.W Holmes in Bishop Auckland hailed for Bank Holiday prices

G.W Holmes & Sons in Etherley Moor, Bishop Auckland, which has wowed customers consistently with its prices in the past, has delivered yet again, according to drivers, after lowering its prices for the Bank Holiday.

As part of the price drop, G.W Holmes & Sons has made its petrol 141.7p; a whole penny cheaper than anywhere in County Durham, according to Petrolprices.co.uk, while offering its diesel for 147.7p.

The prices at G.W.Holmes & Son (Image: G.W HOLMES & SON)

After taking to its social media account, the petrol station posted that it was preparing for the Bank Holiday weekend and ensuring everything was in order.

The family-run business posted the message: "FUEL DROP Prices are locked in tanks full and all Shop staff working hard to ensure all shelves are stocked and ready for the week.

"Thank you for the continued support from everyone at G W Holmes & Son."

Reacting to the cheap prices from G.W Holmes, one motorist said: "Wow you’re cheaper than Costco - well done," while another added: "£1.89 in Surrey yesterday in a large town petrol station. Best to be a North Eastern garage with North Eastern owners and north eastern customers too."

This price drop from the Bishop-Auckland-based garage comes after average petrol prices exceeded 150p per litre for the first time since November last year.

Data collated by the website Fuel Prices Online shows typical pump prices reached 150.1p per litre on Monday.

The average price of a litre of diesel is also at the highest level since November 2023, at 158.3p.

Rising fuel prices in recent weeks have been attributed to an increase in the cost of oil and a weakening of the pound versus the US dollar.

G.W.Holmes in Etherley Moor, Bishop Auckland (Image: G.W.HOLMES & SON)

AA fuel price spokesman Luke Bosdet said: “Inflation has been heading downwards at quite some speed but petrol’s rebound to 150p a litre leaves a big boulder in the road.

“Government data shows that for the fourth-week petrol prices have been higher than at the same time a year ago.

“This last happened in February 2023.

“Five days of falling wholesale costs, with the value of oil coming off the boil, offers hope that pump prices may not get much worse in the short term.

“However, road fuel priced above 150p a litre grabs the attention of drivers and will lead some to re-tighten their belts on other spending.”

The figures are based on data from regulator the Competition and Markets Authority analysed by Fuel Prices Online.

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The AA said analysis of nearly 3,000 forecourts shows 28.1% were charging at least 150p per litre for petrol on Monday, compared with 23.8% a week earlier.

RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said: “Drivers are now really starting to feel pain at the pumps, with a litre of unleaded already up by more than 3p since the start of the month and 9p since the start of the year, adding £1.65 and £5 respectively to the cost of filling a typical family car.

“There are two reasons for this, the rise in the cost of oil and a weakening pound, which makes it more expensive when retailers come to buy new fuel supply.”