5p fuel duty cut kicks in for rural areas

The scheme will benefit people in Hawes, North Yorkshire, and the NE48 postcode, in Northumberland. Credit: PA

People living in two of the region's rural communities, Hawes in North Yorkshire and the NE48 postcode in Northumberland, will benefit from a 5p cut in fuel duty from today.

The scheme applies to 17 of the most rural communities across the UK, where the price is of fuel is often unusually high despite people being dependent on their cars. The cut is designed to take 5p off the cost of each litre of fuel.

The government had to apply to the EU to get the Rural Fuel Rebate scheme approved and that process took a year. Rural islands in the UK already benefit from the scheme but this is the first time the EU has approved a fuel discount of this kind for mainland areas.

The government estimates that 125,000 people will benefit across the country.