Prices at fuel stations are closing in on the £2 mark for the first time.

Oil prices have soared in recent weeks amid concerns over the reliability of supplies due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

In Blackburn, the highest prices have been seen at the Preston New Road BP station which today (March 9) charged a price of 195.9p for diesel and 176.9p for petrol. But others are now catching up.

Nearby fuel stations have now pushed their prices up by more than 5p in just three days.

On Preston Old Road, the Shell Garage had a price of 172.9p per litre for diesel and 160.9p per litre for petrol. 

Earlier this week, one garage owner clarified why prices were higher at some forecourts. The Park Garage Group, who run the most centrally located petrol station in Blackburn, said on Monday that the current set of prices 'meant they would not make a loss’.

Different companies are said to be on different ‘time lags’ on fuel costs and how much they purchase it for. So, higher prices would be seen elsewhere soon.

Figures from data firm Experian Catalist show the average cost of a litre of fuel at UK forecourts reached 165.2p on Tuesday, up nearly 3p on Monday’s 162.3p.

The RAC said the jump was the largest on records dating back to the year 2000.

The price per barrel of Brent crude – the most commonly used way of measuring the UK’s oil price – reached 139 US dollars on Monday, which was its highest level in 14 years.

RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said: “The cost of a filling a 55-litre family car with petrol is now £87 – £7 more than it was at the start of the year.

“Diesel drivers are even worse off, with a tank now costing more than £90 for the first time ever – £8 more than in early January.

“Wholesale fuel prices have already risen dramatically this week, so more pump price increases in the coming days are inevitable.

“Petrol is now certain to top an average of £1.60 a litre this week, while diesel will progress very quickly towards £1.70.

“We continue to call on the Chancellor to help drivers by temporarily cutting VAT to at least 15%.

“As it stands, 26p a litre of what drivers are paying on the forecourt is attributable to VAT and that comes on top of 58p a litre in fuel duty. 

"This tax on a tax is causing unbelievable financial pain to drivers, which is why we believe Mr Sunak holds the key to easing the burden.”