DIESEL costs more in a rural North Yorkshire district than anywhere else in the country, a study has found.

The Countryside Alliance found that motorists in the southern North York Moors area of Ryedale are paying 146.9p per litre, 7p more than drivers in Sunderland and Newcastle.

The finding follows the Government this week introducting of 5p-a-litre discount on fuel to help isolated communities in the Isles of Scilly and Scottish islands.

Thirsk and Malton MP Anne McIntosh, who represents Ryedale, and Ripon and Skipton MP Julian Smith have called for their constituents to be considered for the fuel duty rebate scheme.

AA president Edmund King said higher oil prices had driven up road fuel prices and diesel prices had suffered even more because of seasonal and supply difficulties.

A Countryside Alliance spokesman 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.”