Cost Of Diesel Highest In Dorset

The most expensive place to fill your car with diesel is in Purbeck in Dorset - at 146.9p a litre.

The figure comes as it was revealed the price of diesel in rural filling stations is, on average, 4p more than in urban areas.

In contrast, diesel in Birmingham and in Dartford in south east London was 'only' 139.7p a litre.

Cars are becoming an 'unaffordable necessity; for many living in rural communities, said the Countryside Alliance, which conducted the survey. 

Overall, the alliance found that diesel in rural areas averaged 144p a litre, while in urban areas the average was 140p.

Countryside Alliance executive chairman Barney White-Spunner said: "Not only do people living in rural areas have to drive further to go to work, further to access essential services like schools, doctors and the supermarket, but they have to pay a lot more for their diesel to do so.

"The cost of fuel is a major concern for everyone who lives in the countryside, and cars are fast becoming an unaffordable necessity for many rural families. We urge the Chancellor to help the rural economy get back on its feet and to cut fuel duty in his forthcoming Budget.''

The alliance survey follows findings earlier this week that UK motorists pay more in fuel tax than any other drivers in Europe.

A Treasury spokesman said: "At the Autumn Statement, the Government took more action to help households with motoring costs by freezing fuel duty until August and scrapping a second planned rise altogether.

"This came after our decision to cut fuel duty at Budget 2011, abolish the fuel duty escalator and replace it with a fair fuel stabiliser. This support is worth more than #4 billion over two years.

"Petrol and diesel will be an average of 10p per litre cheaper than if we had proceeded with the escalator introduced in 2009. In addition, from this week, motorists in remote islands will benefit from a 5p-a-litre cut in pump prices thanks to the Government's pilot rural fuel rebate scheme."