Nottinghamshire motorists hit by £11 fuel price rise

That is according to the RAC which criticised an increase of petrol and diesel at the pump prices by 2p a litre in January as 'unjustified' after revealing wholesale diesel prices actually dropped by 1p last month while unleaded remained static.

The organisation is now calling for fuel price cuts as thousands in the region are squeezed at the forecourt.

Compared with a year ago, car owners are having to shell out £9.53 more to fill up an average family hatchback with unleaded while diesel drivers are paying £11.69 a tank more. The RAC is now demanding a 1p a litre price cut and said 'the cost of filling up is really starting to hurt motorists again.'

RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said: “The January rise is harder to swallow as there is a saving from wholesale prices that retailers should be passing on a little faster than they are. “A cut in oil production and the poor exchange rate are excuses being used when diesel wholesale prices have come down and unleaded has remained the same. “There is no justification for the rise - motorists should be aggrieved by the 2p a litre jump.”

On average, a litre of unleaded petrol in the East Midlands now costs 120p compared with 117.7p at the start of 2017 and diesel is 122.2p a litre compared with 120.6p.

Campaign group FairFuelUK is now calling on the Government to set up a fuel price watchdog. And the AA said the sky high cost of filling up meant millions would be forced to cut back on road trips.

Its research found more than a quarter of drivers spend a set amount on petrol, rising to four in ten for those on low incomes.