Drivers are having to pay “crazy” prices for fuel at multiple petrol stations in Watford following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Fuel has increased because the wholesale price for crude oil used in manufacturing petrol and diesel has spiked due to concerns over the reliability of supplies amid the crisis in Ukraine.
We visited six forecourts in Watford on Wednesday afternoon to see how prices in the town have been impacted by the war.
We first went to the Dome roundabout, where motorists have the choice of filling up at the Sainsbury’s, Shell or Asda garages.
Sainsbury’s was the cheapest option, offering unleaded for 146.9p per litre and 153.9p for diesel.
But unleaded cost 152.7p at Asda and 154.9p at Shell, whilst diesel cost just more than 159.0p at both stations.
Prices were higher for diesel at the nearby Esso garage in St Albans Road, costing 161.9p per litre while unleaded was 153.9p.
Meanwhile at the Tesco Extra in Lower High Street, drivers were having to fork out 154.9p for unleaded and 156.9p for diesel.
However, the BP garage in Wiggenhall Road was the most expensive of all the stations we visited - unleaded cost motorists 157.9p per litre whilst diesel was 165.9p.
One driver named Anthony said he is now limiting how often he goes out due to the increase in fuel prices.
He said: "I’m not happy about it (the increase in fuel). If I’ve got to spend more it annoys me but I just limit my journeys in the car.”
Another added: “The price of fuel is just getting crazier and crazier and eventually people just won’t be going out.
“It’s making it difficult for people whose jobs are on the roads and its outrageous. No one knows when its going to stop.
“If it goes up much higher it is going to cause a big problem.”
Across UK forecourts the average price of a litre of petrol rose from 149.2p on February 28 to 153.0p on Monday, according to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).
Average diesel prices rose from 153.4p to 158.6p over the same period.
The weekly increases of 3.8p for petrol and 5.2p for diesel are the largest in records dating back to June 2003.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel