Drivers in West Lothian could be heard shouting at staff at a local garage after the price of fuel rose to nearly £2 per litre.
The Shell garage at Fairfield, Broxburn, increased the price for diesel from 179.9p at the start of the week - to 199.9p per litre on Wednesday.
One customer got in contact with Edinburgh Live to share his anger at increase, warning he only clocked the price once staff had finished filling up.
READ MORE: ITV Our House viewers fume after spotting 'detail' in Martin Compston's passport
Comparing the cost to a nearby Shell garage in Dregorn, where fuel is priced at 161 pence per litre, the customer says couldn't believe the huge difference.
Even though the customer was using a company fuel card, he felt the need to report the issue to head office.
He added: "Was caught unaware of the extortionate price of diesel when filling up here. Was company fuel card. It’s getting reported to shell by head office. Bad practice preying on the current situation. Shell Dreghorn is 1.61 a litre. 1.79 is taking the p***."
![](https://i2-prod.edinburghlive.co.uk/incoming/article23335416.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/0_Broxburn-Shell-station.png)
Since war broke out between Ukraine and Russia, the fear over increased fuel prices has increased, as some local garages have felt the need to adjust their prices accordingly.
Since the customer filled their tank on Monday, March 7, the price of diesel at Fairfield has increase further, almost reaching the £2 mark, at 199.9 pence per litre, according to petrolprices.com.
With the cheapest garages for diesel in and around Edinburgh setting prices of around 150p-155p, the sudden increase at this particular garage has left some customers enraged.
While contacting the garage directly, it was obvious that customers were unhappy with the price hike, with audible shouting and unhappiness towards staff members being displayed.
Customers paying for their fuel in the garage directly could be heard shouting: "It's a disgrace how much you're charging, there's a war on and you've put prices up almost 20p."
Another could be heard saying: "You're taking advantage of people, if that's your manager on the phone then I want to speak to them. It's a shambles here and a rip-off."
After contacting Shell directly, they noted that although the garage in question is branded as Shell, the company do not own or set the prices at this station.
A spokesperson added: "Shell is only able to control prices at the sites we own; of our UK network around one half is owned by independent dealers, who set their own prices. Shell is prevented by law from telling dealer groups what to charge their customers for fuel. Our company-owned sites are priced in line with the market."
The company confirmed that this sight is an independent dealer and set their own prices.
They also added that the reason for price inflation at service stations can be for a number of reasons, including wholesale price and retail costs, which includes transporting the fuel to the forecourts and running the service stations themselves.