A second North East petrol station has been spotted charging drivers more than £2 per litre to refuel as prices continue to rocket across the country.

BP at Barton Park Services on the A1(M) was seen charging 202.9p per litre for petrol and 204.9p per litre for diesel on Tuesday (June 7) evening.

It has become the second North East site to charge over £2 per litre to fill up with petrol.

The Northern Echo: Prices soared above the £2 per litre mark at Barton Park Services. Picture: SARAH CALDECOTTPrices soared above the £2 per litre mark at Barton Park Services. Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

Yesterday (June 7), BP at Washington Services was charging motorists the same extortionate rates.

Read more: BP garage at Washington Services on A1(M) charging more than £2 per litre

It was still charging the high prices on Wednesday morning despite being slammed as “disgraceful” by one driver.

Another said the price was “disgusting”.

AA fuel price spokesman Luke Bosdet said: "Shock and awe is the only way to describe what has been happening at the pump during the half-term break.

"Little wonder that nearly half of drivers stayed at home for the Jubilee extended bank holiday.

"The forces behind the surge have been oil jumping back above 120 US dollars a barrel for the first time since late March, combined with petrol commodity prices being boosted by summer motoring demand."

The Northern Echo: BP at Washington Services on the A1(M) was still charging over £2 per litre on Wednesday (June 8) morning. Picture: DANIEL HORDONBP at Washington Services on the A1(M) was still charging over £2 per litre on Wednesday (June 8) morning. Picture: DANIEL HORDON

Prices have been increasing since the start of the year after an increase in wholesale fuel prices and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Prices jumped by 11p per litre in May, the second largest monthly increase ever, according to RAC Fuel Watch.

An Esso forecourt at Pont Abraham services on the M4 in Wales, and a Gulf garage in Essex were both also seen charging above the eye-watering £2 per litre mark.

Simon Williams, motoring organisation RAC’s Fuel spokesperson, told The Northern Echo: “The average price of petrol endured its biggest daily jump in 17 years by going more than 2p (2.23p) a litre on Tuesday taking it to nearly 181p a litre (180.73p).

"Diesel increased by almost 1.5p to yet another record high at 186.57p. A full tank of unleaded has now shot up to £99.40, moving us ever closer to the milestone £100 petrol fill-up – an unfortunate landmark we may reach as soon as tomorrow.

Read more: REVEALED: The reason why motorway petrol prices are so high

“These are unprecedented times in terms of the accelerating cost of forecourt fuel. Sadly, it seems we are still some way from the peak.

"While the average price of diesel is heading towards £2 a litre, the cost of wholesale petrol unexpectedly dropped around 5p a litre on Tuesday. If this price is maintained in the coming days it could stem the flow of daily record petrol prices.”

--

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can also follow our dedicated County Durham Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.

For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054