FUEL prices have hit a record high across the country as the cost of living crisis continues to impact on the population.

Despite the Chancellor Rishi Sunak introducing a 5p cut to fuel duty back in March, it has made no long-standing impact on the prices being paid at the pump.

Although both diesel and petrol did initially see a small drop, they began to climb again during May and by the end of the month, diesel breached 180p per litre with unleaded now above 170p per litre in many places.

The soaring prices are a further blow to families embarking on half-term getaways and people planning leisure trips over the four-day Platinum Jubilee bank holiday period.

Northwich Guardian: The price of fuel has risen considerably since May 2020The price of fuel has risen considerably since May 2020

Current prices are particularly tough on those driving diesel cars with the average 55-litre tank now costing more than £100 to fill up.

The RAC are warning that prices are likely to rise even further, with crude oil prices consistently above 115 US dollars per barrel.

RAC fuel spokesperson Simon Williams said: "Worse is sadly yet to come just in time for the Jubilee bank holiday, particularly as petrol is now more expensive than diesel on the wholesale market.

"Due to the rapid rise in the cost of wholesale unleaded, retailers are now taking smaller margins on petrol but larger ones on diesel.

"If the wholesale price of petrol stays above diesel, we ought to see the current 10p-a-litre gap in average petrol and diesel forecourt prices narrow.

"If this doesn’t happen diesel drivers will be getting a raw deal, and with prices at these historic highs, every penny matters to drivers."

With that in mind, here are the current top five cheapest places to full your tank (at the time of writing):

UNLEADED

Asda, Barons Quay, Northwich - 167.7p per litre

Sainsburys, Northwich - 167.9p per litre

BP, Winnington Lane, Northwich - 167.9p per litre

Tesco, Northwich - 167.9p per litre

Applegreen, Tarporley Road, Little Leigh - 168.8p per litre

DIESEL 

Sainsburys, Northwich - 178.9p per litre

Asda, Barons Quay - 179.7p per litre

Applegreen, Tarporley Road, Little Leigh - 180.8p per litre

BP, Winnington Lane, Northwich - 180.9p per litre

Tesco, Northwich - 180.9p per litre

BP, Winnington Lane, Northwich - 180.9p per litre