DORSET motorists are being clobbered at the petrol pumps again as fuel prices head for a 26 per cent rise in just a year.

Drivers filling up at pumps across the county are getting a shock when they get to the till to discover that filling the tank of an average family car now costs more than £60.

Prices have been slowly creeping upwards for some time but this week diesel and unleaded hit an average price of £5 per gallon, a measure still used by many people to gauge prices.

At East Knighton, unleaded now costs 109.9p per litre, the same price as at BP in Wimborne and at Hinton service station. Murco in Southbourne is one of the cheapest at 108.9p.

Diesel hit 114.9p at Holton Heath and 112.9p at BP in Wimborne yesterday, two of the highest in the area.

At the BP in Castle Lane, Bournemouth, the prices were 112.9p for unleaded and 114.9p for diesel.

There are fears that prices could continue to rise in the run-up to Christmas, a time when families traditionally travel long distances to see family and friends.

“The festive season is when drivers are trying to get as much as they can out of their pay packets but this year they are seeing huge amounts being siphoned off to pay for fuel,” said Luke Bosdet of the AA.

Haulage companies have also warned they may have to raise their prices if diesel costs continue to go up, which could lead to higher prices in the shops.