Rural households struggle with rising oil prices during Iran war

Rural residents using oil tanks to fuel their homes say they are feeling the pinch of the war in Iran. The UK is heavily reliant on oil and gas imports and prices have surged since the US and Israel began attacking Iran earlier this month. Iran previously warned vessels not to pass through the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf, through which about 20% of the world's oil and gas is shipped. Mum-of-three Dominique Shepherd, who lives near Thirsk, said she "wanted to cry" when she found out the price of topping up her oil tank had doubled. "If I had just ordered it when it was at £300 things would be a lot simpler, a lot easier," she said. "We just don't have that money lying around." Heating oil is often used in homes across the UK and Ireland that are not connected to the gas grid. Shepherd said the cost of oil was normally between £600 and £700 for 1,000 litres, but it had jumped to £1,258 as of last week, with prices expected to continue rising. "It's a big worry because we then have to cut back on certain things like family days out with the children," she said. The UK and Ireland Fuel Distributors Association (UKIFDA) said there had been a "rapid rise in wholesale prices, whi