Business · Energy & Commodities · 18 hrs ago
Rising diesel costs squeeze North East charities and businesses
Diesel prices in the UK have risen above £2 a litre for the first time, according to the RAC.
Charities and businesses in the North East of England say the increase is making their work harder to sustain.
Newcastle-based charity Daft as a Brush drives cancer patients to hospital appointments and says it now spends £15,000 a month on diesel.
It had planned to replace its diesel vans with electric vehicles, but says higher fuel costs have left it unable to afford the change.
Teesside Minibus Hire says fuel costs are squeezing its profits, while some customers resist higher prices and turn to cheaper, unlicensed services.
The rise in oil prices is linked to disruption to oil production and transport caused by the Iran war.
The government has extended a freeze on fuel duty until the end of the year and says there is no cause for concern about diesel shortages.
The average UK diesel price has risen above £2 a litre for the first time, according to the RAC.
Charities and businesses across the North East say rising diesel costs are putting pressure on their finances.
Newcastle-based cancer charity Daft as a Brush spends £15,000 a month on diesel, £5,000 more than last year.
The charity says fuel costs have prevented it from replacing its diesel vans with electric vehicles.
Teesside Minibus Hire says it is passing some higher costs on to customers and is close to fuel costs making its business unsustainable.
- Who
- North East charities and businesses, including Daft as a Brush and Teesside Minibus Hire.
- What
- They say rising diesel prices are straining their finances and operations.
- When
- The article was published on 11 October 2026; it says diesel prices have risen over the past seven months.
- Where
- The North East of England, including Newcastle and Middlesbrough.
- Why
- The Iran war has disrupted the production and transportation of wholesale oil and refined products, contributing to worldwide price rises.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
At the pump, what you see is what we pay
Long term, probably not
Last week, it was £94 to fill the tank from half full.
We're not running at a loss yet, but we're running close it to it not being worthwhile or sustainable
The government announced it would extend the fuel duty freeze until the end of the year.
The Iran war severely disrupted the production and transportation of wholesale oil and refined products from the region.
Daft as a Brush volunteer driver Davey Hall said it cost £94 to fill the tank from half full.
The BBC reported that the average UK diesel price had risen above £2 a litre for the first time.
- UK average diesel price
- Above £2 a litre for the first time
- Daft as a Brush diesel spending
- £15,000 a month
- Increase in charity diesel costs
- £5,000 more than last year
- Daft as a Brush fleet
- 30 vans
- Daft as a Brush annual mileage
- 600,000 miles
- Fuel duty freeze
- 5p per litre for petrol and diesel, extended until the end of the year
Sources
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