Why have petrol prices gone up?

Petrol prices have risen, as higher global oil costs feed through to the pumps.

Crude prices have climbed sharply in recent weeks amid the continuing conflict in the Middle East.

Katy Docker looks at what is behind the increase.

The price of crude oil has risen sharply over the past month, as the conflict in the Middle East continues.

Brent crude - the international benchmark for oil prices - has been trading above 100 dollars a barrel, amid disruption to Saudi oil infrastructure and concerns over major export routes

Although oil prices have eased from their recent highs, they remain significantly higher than they were earlier in the summer.

And that matters because when the price of crude rises, it can push up the cost of petrol and diesel.

But it isn't an immediate or one-for-one increase.

Crude oil first has to be refined into fuels, and there are then costs involved in transporting and distributing them before they reach the forecourt.

Wholesale fuel prices can also be affected by the pound-to-dollar exchange rate, as oil is traded in dollars.

While retailers set their own prices, those higher costs can ultimately feed through to what drivers pay at the pump.

And Gibraltar is not immune to the movements in international fuel markets.

Motorists here are paying considerably more to fill up than they were six months ago.

A litre of unleaded has risen from around £1.21 in March to £1.50 today.