It's almost Christmas - and many families this weekend will be marking the start of December by filling up the tank and going to buy their tree. 

This weekend, the cheapest petrol station for unleaded fuel within five miles of Darlington is the Shell garage in Newton Aycliffe, where the price at the pump is 130.7p. 

This is a decrease compared to prices in late September at the same station, which were 135.7p - with all other stations at the time being above 135p per litre.

And while things are looking positive, an interim report released by the Competition and Markets Authority this week found that fuel margins remained higher than historic levels. 

Dan Turnbull, senior director of markets at the CMA, said: "While fuel prices have fallen since July, drivers are paying more for fuel than they should be as they continue to be squeezed by stubbornly high fuel margins.

"We therefore remain concerned about weak competition in the sector and the impact on pump prices. With that in mind, we are pleased the government is progressing with our recommendations.

"These measures will empower drivers to find the cheapest fuel prices wherever they are in the UK, increase competition and support the economy – the more people save on fuel, the more they have to spend in other areas."

Here is a list of all the cheapest fuel prices within five miles of County Durham, Darlington and Bishop Auckland (as of November 29), according to price comparison website PetrolPrices:

Darlington

  • Shell Newton Aycliffe (Forest Park Services) - unleaded: 130.7p, diesel: 139.7p
  • JET Darlington Road (Newton Park Service Station) - unleaded: 133.9p, diesel: 139.9p
  • Sainsbury’s Darlington – unleaded: 133.9p, diesel: 140.9p
  • Morrisons Darlington - unleaded: 134.7p, diesel: 139.7p
  • Asda Darlington - unleaded: 134.7p, diesel: 139.7p

  • Bishop Auckland

  • JET B6282 (Etherley Moor Garage) - unleaded: 129. 7p, diesel: 135.7p
  • JET Staindrop Road (Oakley Service Station) - unleaded: 129.9p, diesel: 135.9p
  • Tesco Bishop Auckland - unleaded: 130.9p, diesel: 136.9p
  • Sainsbury's Bishop Auckland - unleaded: 130.9p, diesel: 136.9p
  • JET Shildon (Shildon Service Station) - unleaded: 130.9p, diesel: 139.9p

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Durham

  • JET B6282 (Etherley Moor Garage) - unleaded: 129.7p, diesel: 135.7p
  • JET Staindrop Road (Oakley Service Station) - unleaded: 129.9p, diesel: 135.9p
  • Tesco Bishop Auckland - unleaded: 130.9p, diesel: 136.9p
  • Sainsbury's Bishop Auckland - unleaded: 130.9p, diesel: 136.9p
  • Morrisons Bishop Auckland - unleaded: 131.7p, diesel: 137.7p