UK van drivers face extra £2.5bn in diesel costs this year, figures show

Calls for planned fuel duty rise to be scrapped as analysis finds average fuel bill could hit 1,965, up from 1,294

Millions of British van drivers face a combined 2.5bn cost to cover the rising price of diesel this year, according to figures, fuelling calls for the government to scrap its planned fuel duty rise.

The owners of diesel vans and pickups can expect to collectively spend almost 8.5bn at the pump this year, according to analysis for the Guardian, after diesel prices climbed to record highs due to a global fuel shortage caused by disruption to refineries in the Middle East and Russia.