Taxis, farmers and the fuel crisis in the south

Fuel prices have soared across the UK since the US-Israel war with Iran began on 28 February.

Drivers in the south of England have felt the financial strain. Of those working in industries that rely on petrol and diesel, many have said the increased costs to their businesses will have to inevitably be passed on to consumers.

The average price of petrol is up 25p a litre since the start of the war, while diesel has risen by 48p - the most expensive levels in more than three years.

From farmers to taxi drivers, here is how the conflict has affected the region.

There was some hope when the US and Iran announced a two-week ceasefire agreement, leading to a drop in oil prices.

However they jumped back up after peace talks broke down and US president Donald Trump ordered the blockading of Iranian ports.

James Cossins who runs a dairy, beef and arable farm in Tarrant Rawston, near Blandford, Dorset, said prices had doubled for the 200-300 litres of diesel he needed each day to run his tractors.

"It's a busy time of year and we're sowing crops, putting fertiliser out on crops and it's obviously increased the cost of producing what we do," he said.

Jim Hooper, from Berry Hill Farm in Throop, also in Dorset, said the rising fuel costs would eventually have to be passed on to the customer.

He said this time of year is known as the "hungry gap" for vegetable growers like him, when stored winter vegetables begin to run out and new summer crops were not yet ready to harvest.

He said it was a "worry" that his product has not been at its best and he had not yet been able to justify increasing his prices.

Perry McMillan, a taxi driver in Southampton, said: "To fill up was costing me just under £40 and now it's well into £50."

He said the situation brought home how reliant the country was on oil and he had been "constantly hunting around" for the best prices.

Southampton City Council regulates the maximum fares for licensed hackney carriage vehicles within the city boundary, which means drivers have to "bite the bullet" and soak up those increased costs, McMillan said.

He said it was too early to asses the long-term impact but if prices remained high, "cabbies are going to have to work longer hours to make the money up".

He said he and his customers were "very angry" with the war and the knock-on effect it was having on the cost of living but added that people had been "generous" and understanding of the pressures taxi drivers faced.

"We're seen as public servants and we've got a duty to get people to where they need to go," he said.

"If it costs me more in fuel then so be it."

Shahid Rafiq, the secretary of the Reading Taxi Association, said he was working more hours to earn back what he was spending on fuel.

He added: "Mentally it's draining because you think, every time you go past a fuel station, 'it's going down, it's going up.'

"You're hoping it's going to come down but it's not. Mentally I think it's affecting a lot of people."

Nick Briggs, a partner in the Pittvale Service Station in Winchester for 60 years, said the business had a loyal customer base to help it through the current difficulties.

He said, despite concerns now, the most difficult period over recent decades was the fuel protests in 2000, when protests led to petrol stations running dry.

"At least this time we have fuel," Briggs said. "And that makes a big difference. You can imagine that stress when you're not earning any money because you haven't got any fuel [to sell]."

Rising energy prices are often first felt at the pump and petrol and diesel rose by a record monthly amount in March.

AA president Edmund King said: "Part of it is supply and demand and if oil isn't getting through the Straits of Hormuz that puts the pressure up. But part of it is just the global uncertainty and speculators increasing the prices.

"We saw it with Ukraine and we're seeing it again in Iran."

The head of the Basingstoke-based firm added that drivers should consider shopping around and changing their driving style.

"Cutting your speed by about 10%, by driving more smoothly, you can save about 10% of your fuel, so it's certainly worth doing," he said.

The government has introduced a fuel finder scheme to help motorists to find the cheapest fuel near them.

A government spokesperson said: "Motorists are paying more because of the war in Iran. This is not our war and that is why we did not join it.

"We are determined to keep costs down for motorists. That's why we have extended the 5p fuel duty cut twice until September and will continue to monitor the situation."

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs has said it expected "no change to food availability", adding that it would monitor increases in fertiliser and oil prices, "ready to act to protect rural communities".

"We are taking seriously the Iran war's possible impact on the food and farming sector.

"We will continue to meet with the NFU and stakeholders to gather information on the effects of the conflict on the industry," it added.