Diesel prices in the United Kingdom have reached an all-time high of 199.18p per litre, according to the RAC motoring organisation, as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to drive up fuel costs.

Petrol prices are also rising, with a litre currently costing 174.13p.

The previous diesel record was 199.09p per litre, set in June 2022 following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Over the past seven months, the conflict involving Iran has severely disrupted the production and transportation of wholesale oil across the region, causing fuel prices to surge. The price of Brent crude, a global benchmark, rose over the weekend and is now hovering at around $108 per barrel, up from approximately $73 before the conflict began.

The RAC said diesel prices had entered "uncharted territory" and served as a reminder of "just how exposed the UK is to events occurring far away."

The cost of diesel has risen by 59p per litre, or just under 40%, since the conflict erupted at the end of February. Petrol prices are now 41p per litre higher than at the start of the conflict, though still well below their 2022 peak.

The increase means filling an average family car with diesel now costs £110, some £31 more than at the start of the conflict.

Supplies of diesel have been heavily constrained by the Middle East conflict, which has restricted the flow of both crude oil and refined diesel onto global markets. Russia, also a major producer, has implemented an export ban on diesel following Ukrainian attacks on its refineries, further limiting supply.

Diesel is harder to refine than petrol and, because it is used extensively by the haulage industry and in agriculture, demand is very difficult to reduce.

The UK is heavily reliant on imports. Although the country's four refineries produce more than enough petrol to meet domestic demand, they do not produce sufficient diesel for the country's needs.

Simon Williams, the RAC's head of policy, said record diesel prices "spell pain not only at the pumps for drivers, but for everyone who buys goods or services that rely on diesel lorries and vans."

"Undoubtedly these increased costs will be passed on to consumers," he said. Williams added that pump prices will not fall until there is a "sustained lower oil price - over several weeks, not days."

The RAC's data is based on average prices across a range of supermarkets, motorway service stations and independent retailers.

The Chancellor said on Monday that the "place" and "time" for the government to address rising fuel prices and fuel duty is next month's Budget.

John Healey said: "I'm acutely concerned and conscious about how hard it is for families. I see that at the pumps myself. We can't remove the cost of living pressures, we can't remove the prices that people are having to pay, but where we can we will act and we will give people just a bit of breathing space, and the same goes for the cost to business."