Motorists appear to be panic buying petrol as cars queue at pumps in Manchester
14:16, 14 Mar 2026Updated 14:22, 14 Mar 2026
Queues at Costco in Manchester today(Image: Paul Cousans/Zenpix Ltd.)
Long queues have formed outside a petrol station Trafford Park as panic buying drivers fear fuel prices could continue to rise due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Photos show dozens of cars forming queues at Costco in Trafford Park, Stretford, on Saturday (March 14). It comes after US President Donald Trump said US military had conducted a bombing raid on Iran’s Kharg Island.
The island is home to Iran’s main oil export terminal, where 90 per cent of the countries crude oil passes through. Oil prices have risen by more than 40 per cent since the start of the Iran war.
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As a result, petrol prices in the UK have now shot up by over 10p a litre since the start of the conflict, according to the latest figures. A new map shows retailer data published by the government revealing the average price of a litre of unleaded petrol today has passed the 140p mark.
Motorists panic buy fuel at Costco as conflicts in the Middle East escalate(Image: Paul Cousans/Zenpix Ltd.)
It is estimated that the Iran war is set to cost UK motorists £15m a day in extra fuel costs as prices continue to spike upwards at petrol forecourts around the country.
The impact of the price hikes means that the average cost of all the fuel bought each day in the UK is already costing motorists £12.9m more than it did before the Iran war began on February 28, and that figure is set to pass £15m on current trends.
Drivers queue at petrol pumps at Costco in Manchester(Image: Paul Cousans/Zenpix Ltd.)
Chancellor Rachel Reeves had asked the UK competition watchdog to ‘crack down’ on ‘rip-off’ fuel prices ahead of a meeting with energy bosses. Ms Reeves insisted she ‘will not tolerate’ firms exploiting uncertainty in the Middle East for excess financial gain as concerns grow over its impact on the cost of living.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has warned fuel retailers it is stepping up its monitoring of pump prices amid concern over profiteering as the US war with Iran drives up wholesale costs.
It said firms responsible for thousands of filling stations across the country had been ‘put on notice’ in an attempt to stop bosses ramping up profits at the expense of consumers. The watchdog said it would require firms to provide their revenue, costs and sales data.
The RAC said earlier this week diesel prices had risen by nearly nine per cent since February 28, while petrol prices were on average six per cent higher.
The Government has said drivers can compare prices at different petrol stations across the UK through its Fuel Finder service.