Chancellor Rishi Sunak has used his spring Statement to implement a fuel-duty cut as part of efforts to help firms and households deal with a spike in inflation.

Sunak said that from 6pm this evening fuel duty would be reduced by 5p a litre on both petrol and diesel, and that the reduction would stay in place until March next year. 

The move will go some way to offset fuel prices which have rocketed to record levels in recent weeks, as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine added extra uncertainty to global energy markets and created new pressures for the construction sector.