PETROL prices have reached a record high in Dorset with one filling station charging hard-pressed motorists 126.9p a litre to fill up on its forecourt.

During the bank holiday weekend, the Gulf service station at East Knighton, near Winfrith, was advertising unleaded petrol for 126.9p a litre while a litre of diesel was on sale for 128.9p.

One angry motorist told the Daily Echo that the price of both had soared by several pence in just a few days, adding: “It’s astonishing that it has shot up by so much in such a short time.

“This petrol station must now be one of the most expensive in the county.

“I expect both petrol and diesel prices to crash through the 130p a litre barrier within the next few months.”

According to petrolprices.com, the highest price of unleaded petrol in Bournemouth is 125.9p and 126.9p for a litre of diesel.

The lowest price in the area is 118.9 for unleaded petrol and 119.9p for diesel.

On Saturday, unleaded fuel at Tesco on Castle Lane was selling for 120.9p a litre while diesel was on sale for 121.9p a litre.

At the nearby BP station, unleaded petrol cost 121.9p a litre while diesel was 124.9p a litre.

In neighbouring Poole, motorists were forking out 122.9p for unleaded petrol and 123.9p for diesel at BP in Longfleet Road.

In Wimborne Road, Texaco was selling unleaded petrol at £121.9 with diesel at £123.9.

The AA said petrol prices had reached a new record high last month, having broken the previous record of 119.7p a litre set in July 2008.

Rising wholesale costs, a one pence increase in fuel duty on April 1 and a higher price for oil continue to push pump prices up by one to two-tenths of a penny a day.

The AA’s fuel price report shows petrol prices in the South West averaging 120.7p a litre (549.6p a gallon) with diesel costing an average 122p a litre (554.62p a gallon).

The highest petrol and diesel prices are in Northern Ireland while Yorkshire and Humberside have the cheapest fuel.