Petrol prices have hit an eight-year high with drivers paying another 3.4p and 2.7p a litre of petrol and diesel respectively during July.

The month saw the largest increase in the price of unleaded since January, putting the average price of a litre of fuel at 135.13p – a price not seen since late September 2013.

A litre of diesel now costs 137.06 on average, too. Both price rises meant that last month was the most expensive July to fill up with petrol since 2013 and for diesel since 2014.

In Blackburn, according to PetrolPrices.co.uk, the cheapest petrol can be found at Texaco on Grimshaw Park.

Data collected by the site shows that the petrol and diesel cost 130.9p per litre and 131.9p per litre respectively at the Texaco service station on August 1.

RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said: “Right now it’s hard to see what it will take for prices to start falling again.

“While we’re not past the pandemic by any means, demand for oil is likely to continue to increase as economic activity picks up again, and this is likely to have the effect of pushing up wholesale fuel prices, costs which retailers are bound to pass on at the pumps.

“Unless major oil producing nations decide a new strategy to increase output, we could very well see forecourt prices going even higher towards the end of the summer.”

An owner filling up their 55-litre car with petrol now pays, on average, £3.08 more than they did at the start of June and £11.47 more than they did a year ago.

Brimming a similarly-sized tank with diesel now costs £2.90 more than at the start of June and £10.46 more than at the end of July 2020.

Drivers are still able to find the best deals at the supermarkets, however. Prices of a litre of petrol here are around 3p cheaper than average and more than 16p less than you’ll pay for a litre of fuel at a motorway service station.

The data from PetrolPrices.co.uk was listed on the website on August 5. Data not available for all service stations in the area.

Petrol and diesel prices in Blackburn

Texaco, Grimshaw Park Service Station, BB2 3AG – 130.9p unleaded, 131.9 diesel

Texaco, Preston New Road, BB2 6PN – 130.9p unleaded, 131.9 diesel

ASDA Blackburn, Grimshaw Park, BB2 3DY – 131.7p unleaded, 132.7 diesel

Texaco, Lock Mill Service Station, BB2 4HL – 131.9p unleaded, 132.9 diesel

Tesco Blackburn, Hill Street, BB1 3HF – 132.9 unleaded, 133.9p diesel

Texaco, Shadsworth Road, BB1 2HR – 132.9p unleaded, 135.9p diesel

Shell, Preston New Road, BB2 7PU – 132.9p unleaded, 135.9p diesel

Texaco, Hyndburn Road, BB5 1PY - 132.9p unleaded, 133.9p unleaded

Esso, Pennine Service Station, Longsight Road, BB2 7HZ - 135.9p unleaded, 137.9p diesel

Esso, Beehive Service Station, Haslingden Road, BB1 2PX – 136.9p unleaded

Shell, Three Arches Service Station, Preston Old Road, BB2 5EP – 137.9p unleaded, 139.9p diesel

Shell, M65 J4 Darwen Motorway Services, BB3 0AT - 138.9p unleaded, 141.9p diesel