Fuel dearest in Londonderry

A comparative price index provided by the Northern Ireland consumer watchdog showed that it costs 414.00 on average to buy 900 litres of home-heating oil here, which is more expensive than anywhere else in the province bar Ballynahinch.

Equally the dearest petrol price found in Londonderry was 121.9p per litre - the dearest price anywhere in Northern Ireland. The dearest diesel price was also 121.9p per litre; only in Enniskillen and Armagh was a higher diesel price found.

SDLP Foyle MP Mark Durkan has called for a fuel duty regulator to prevent unexpected rises in petrol and diesel prices which are seriously affecting hard-pressed working families in Londonderry.

Mr Durkan said: "Petrol has risen by an average of 4p a litre over the last month. There are many families in Derry that have no choice but to keep two cars on the road and this will hit them very hard.

"Unexpected increases in the price of fuel impacts significantly upon hard-working families and businesses of all sizes in Derry. It also seriously affects those living in rural areas who have no transport alternative except private cars.

"There needs to be greater research, development and support for reducing dependency upon oil for everyday use. However, in the short term, I have joined other MPs at Westminster in calling for a fuel duty regulator to prevent unexpected spikes in prices from affecting hard-working families in future."

Commenting on the decision to extend Winter Fuel Allowance rates for a further year recently Consumer Council Chief Executive, Antoinette McKeown said: "Fuel Poverty levels in Northern Ireland have reached crisis proportions with one-in-two households struggling to heat their homes adequately.

"Although consumers will not face the full 3 pence per litre increase which was expected, customers filling up at the pumps are still facing an extra 1ppl increase in the rate of duty from the start of April."