SOARING petrol prices in and around Dorset have been described as “eye-watering” with some stations charging close to a massive £2 per litre.

New figures show that petrol prices at UK forecourts were at a record high over the half-term school holiday, with the RAC predicting average prices will hit the £2 per litre mark this summer.

Government figures show the average price of a litre of petrol at UK forecourts on Monday was a record 175.6p. In the BCP region and parts of the New Forest, however, prices are considerably higher than this.

At a Texaco station in Christchurch Road, Ringwood, a litre of diesel was clocked at 194.9p while petrol was priced higher at 197.9p on Tuesday. This was 23p more than at a BP forecourt in St Leonards less than four miles away.

Prices at the Shell station in Holdenhurst Road, Bournemouth, were identical to those of the Ringwood Texaco when pictured on Monday evening.

Shaun Roberts, a labourer from Bournemouth, said current fuel prices at the BP garage near Poole Hospital in Longfleet Road are “ridiculous”.

He told the Echo: “It annoys me every time I see it. Due to its location next to Poole Hospital it has quite a big customer base, but it is charging an eye-watering 189.9p a litre for diesel.

“I expect the ambulance service fills up there too. This can’t be acceptable.

“Hospital staff are getting ripped off and it’s just ridiculous. They’re meant to be our heroes after the pandemic but they’re getting screwed over.”

RAC fuel spokesperson Simon Williams said: “With analysts predicting that oil will average 135 US dollars a barrel for the rest of this year, drivers need to brace themselves for average fuel prices rocketing to £2 a litre, which would mean a fill-up would rise to an unbelievable £110.

“We strongly urge the government to take drastic action to help soften the impact for drivers from these never-before-seen pump prices.”

Bournemouth Echo: Petrol prices at Shell station in Salisbury Road, RingwoodPetrol prices at Shell station in Salisbury Road, Ringwood

Sir Robert Syms, MP for Poole, told the Echo: “I’m not sure I believe it because they keep saying the price at the pump has gone up. When I come into Poole from London I look at the prices and actually some of them have started to fall.

“When the RAC say petrol prices are at record levels, I take it with a slight pinch of salt because I think we’ve already been at peak levels for a month or two.

“All my life we’ve had big increases in prices for oil and gas, usually followed by a fall, followed by a big increase and then another fall. It doesn’t go in a straight line.

“I think we’ll be in a much better position later in the year.”

In March, the Treasury cut fuel duty by 5p per litre.