For the first time ever, average UK diesel prices have closed to within 3.2 pence of £5 a gallon.

Diesel now costs a record 109.3 pence per litre while petrol has also reached a new all-time high, averaging 104.3 pence per litre across the country, according to the AA.

Although the price of diesel hasn’t risen as sharply as petrol in recent weeks, the litre price is three-quarters of a penny short of the £1.10 mark that signifies a £5 gallon.

The last increase during the second week of January came from supermarkets putting up prices following the festive break.