Drivers have been desperate to fill up at Costco after catching on that its fuel prices are much cheaper in comparison to other retailers.

Large queues are often seen at the petrol forecourt in Gateshead as slashed prices for petrol and premium diesel draw drivers in.

Since petrol prices shot up across the UK with some forecourts brazen enough to charge upwards of £2 per litre, Costco has proved the destination of choice.

Read more: Why prices at this County Durham petrol station are among the cheapest in North East

On social media, some have reportedly travelled from across Tyne & Wear and County Durham just to take advantage of the price.

But how cheap is it?

Costco updates its petrol and diesel prices almost every day online and tells its "members" how much it will cost to fill up in Gateshead.

As of Thursday, this is the advertised rate - although Costco warns drivers that the price can change at any time. 

Unleaded Petrol
159.7

Premium Unleaded Petrol
166.7

Premium Diesel
173.7

How does it compare to other retailers?

According to PetrolPrices, the next cheapest for unleaded petrol in and around the area stands at around the 165.9 mark.

Meanwhile, diesel is being charged at 179.9 and premium diesel, 189.9.

Can anyone become a member?

In order to take advantage of the cheaper fuel prices, you'll need to be a member first which is chargeable.

The Costco website lists the full list of people who can apply and includes people in banking, local government, education and medical. 

It comes as drivers have travelled miles to visit Jet Oakley, in West Auckland, as its forecourt charges cheap prices of £160.9p for unleaded and £175.9p for diesel.

Their price tag beats nearby branches of supermarket chains including Sainsbury's, Morrisons, ASDA and Tesco.

Supplies have proved so popular that despite increasing their number of fuel tankers from two to four, they have been close to running out on some days, as motorists queue over the nearby roundabout and along the bypass.  

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