Scottish diesel prices hit £2 a litre at 226 forecourts

'Absolutely devastated'

The worst-hit areas are the Highlands and islands, where motorists can pay up to 50p more per litre than customers using supermarket pumps in the central belt.

One forecourt in the Hebrides is charging 238.8p, while another is at 223p. Prices in the Northern Isles have also climbed above £2.

For businesses that rely on heavy vehicles, the increase is becoming difficult to absorb. Hauliers estimate that filling a single lorry now costs around £250 more every week.

Norman MacAskill, who runs a livestock transport business in South Uist, remembers paying just 32p for a litre of diesel when he entered the industry 40 years ago. He is now paying £2.22.

“Anyone who is running a lorry is absolutely devastated when they get their fuel bill at the end of the month,” he said. “There's no business on earth that can withstand that increase in costs.”

Orkney haulier Dave Neil described the situation as “challenging”.

Remote forecourts already face higher delivery costs, which can push prices up further when oil becomes more expensive. The RAC expects the UK average to reach a record high this weekend, with the war in Ukraine and conflict in the Middle East putting pressure on crude oil supplies.

Ministers have said they continue “to protect British people and business” and have confirmed that fuel duty will not rise this year.