MISERY FOR DRIVERS AS DIESEL PRICES SMASH RECORD OF OVER £1.80 A LITRE

The average price of diesel at Britain's pumps has sky rocketed above £1.80-a-litre for the first time on record and the misery for diesel drivers is only going to get worse with the fuel set to keep climbing closer to £2.

The UK average price for a litre of diesel has hit 180.29p according to both the RAC & AA, which surpasses the previous record of 179.90p set on 23 March, before Rishi Sunak introduced the 5p fuel duty cut to ease skyrocketing forecourt prices.

Petrol is also on the rise, hitting 166.65p, which is less than a penny below the record for unleaded - 167.30p set on 22 March.

Warnings have been sounded by the AA and RAC who have told drivers to brace themselves for even more pain at the pumps with further rises expected over the coming weeks, with the cost of fuel set to add more strain on finances and pile more pressure on families struggling in the cost of living crisis.

The RAC said then the cut was "a drop in the ocean" and now claimed drivers would be better off if had Mr Sunak reduced VAT on fuel.

"Had Mr Sunak reduced VAT to 15% as we called on him to do instead of cutting duty by 5p, drivers of diesel vehicles would be around 2p a litre better off, or £1 for every full tank," Mr Williams said.

"As it is, drivers are still paying 27p VAT on petrol and 29p on diesel, which is just the same as before the Spring Statement."

Although the UK does not rely on a huge amount of oil from Russia, the global shortages have had an adverse knock on effect which is hitting people in the UK hard in the pocket.