Motorists are being hit with fuel prices at a six-month high, new figures show. The UK’s average price of a litre of petrol stands at £1.28, with diesel costing £1.35.

This means the cost of filling the tank of a 55-litre family petrol car has increased by nearly £4 in the past six weeks, and more than £2 for diesel cars.

The last time prices were higher than current levels for either fuel was November 2018, according to data published by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Petrol and diesel prices have increased for 12 and 15 consecutive weeks respectively dating back to mid-January.

MPs in the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Fair Fuel have called for an independent body to monitor fuel costs.

The organisation could be named PumpWatch and would oversee fuel prices in a similar way to how utility providers are scrutinised.

Steve Gooding, director of motoring research charity the RAC Foundation, said: “Since the start of the year the wholesale cost of petrol has increased faster than that of diesel and now the two fuels are leaving the refineries at about the same price.

“Yet diesel is still several pence per litre dearer than petrol at the pumps. It seems that retailers are keen to hang on to their profit margins where they can and drivers are paying the price.”

Neil Lancefield is Press Association Transport Correspondent.