The Queen of Holderness, the Gothic church of St Patrick in Patrington, stands majestically just off the main route that connects Hull to Spurn Point. Its lofty 190ft high spire, once a landmark for seamen on entering the Humber, is as impressive as ever and it continues to be considered one of the most beautiful village churches in England.

Patrington is 18 miles east of Hull and it hasn't changed a great deal from 40 years ago, except there are many more cars about. Its main thoroughfare is to the small seaside resort of Withernsea four miles away. Time really does appear to stand still a lot longer out in Holderness.

Colin Johnston has lived here for the past 25 years and owns Patrington Garage, probably the busiest single retail outlet in the village. Colin knows that his fuel pumps will always see people from Patrington and the surrounding villages – his outlet is one of just two petrol stations on the main road between Hull and Withernsea.

"Around here people need the fuel to go to work, but I've already noticed there is not so much riding about going on in their leisure time now. We did have a lot of panic buying a few weeks ago when everyone heard on the news that there was a possibility of a shortage and thought fuel was going to be scarce, but we don't have a problem
with getting it.

"We get a delivery every week and we're not tied in to any particular company. I try to trade for the best price, which is proving really difficult at the moment."

This is a thriving village which is well blessed with a bakery, butcher's shop, newsagents, post office, hardware store, pubs and several other outlets. Ralph Ward lives in nearby Welwick and is a director of Frank Hill & Son, auctioneers and valuers who have had their base in Patrington for many years. He knows that the village's location is not ideal when costs are rising. "Our problem out here is that the majority of the village commute to work in Hull. So they are already doing a round trip of nearly 40 miles a day, irrespective of whether they then have to travel again during the day. With around a 30 per cent increase in the price of fuel it is starting to apply some pressure on their finances."

Ralph spends a great deal of his time working with the farming community who are just about to be hit really hard. Red diesel (farm diesel, so called because it contains an additive and is sold more cheaply on the basis of it being for food production) has increased in price 100 per cent since last year.

"Farmers' costs may not be that much bigger just at the moment because we are in a cereal growing area and harvest hasn't started yet.

"But most farmers are in a state of trepidation over pulling out their combines and then their cultivation equipment in the autumn as they know full well they will be paying at least twice what they did last year."

Normal motor vehicles will generally run on red diesel. It's much cheaper because of a lower fuel tax. Last year it cost around 30p/litre and is now 70p/litre, almost half the price of normal diesel.

It is stored on most farms and a theft of red diesel led to the death of a farmer's wife in County Durham recently. HM Customs & Excise prosecute those found using it without a licence.

The rural area around Patrington includes some
of the most isolated communities in Yorkshire, and the escalating price of fuel has the potential to make others feel even more isolated. Laura Murrell is a single mum with a one year-old baby and she lives in Sunk Island, the reclaimed land next to the River Humber. "I don't watch the news a lot, but I do know that when you go to a petrol pump and put £10 in it just doesn't last half as long as it did. It's not so bad for my car as it's a 1.6 but my mum's is a 2 litre and it just guzzles it.

"I'm becoming a lot more housebound than I used to be. Costs are going up all the time and I just don't have the money to spend on petrol.

"There's no-one around and all I can do is sit at home with my baby girl all the time.

"Living in the countryside has never bothered me before because I've always been able to just hop into a car and go wherever, but I can't now."

Those who provide services to Patrington and the other villages nearby but who travel from further afield are starting to look at the prices they are charging. Ian Cunningham is a kitchen fitter with Grace-Ann Furniture in Hull and his is a thirsty van.

"I didn't realise that it was now around £6-odd per gallon. The last time I remember it was £4.10 and that's all happened in the space of a year. We could be looking at increasing our charges. "

Sylvia Keyworth runs the shop at Patrington Garage and sees the sharp end of the fuel price rises. "People are reacting to it saying it's all too expensive, but it hasn't really altered our trade a lot. People need to be able to get to work, but if it carries on going up and up then people around here won't even be able to afford to go."

For Withernsea resident John Chandler it is particularly galling. John is retired and gets out and about in his camper van with his wife. They enjoy visiting friends but they are now having to restrict their journeys to just once a week.

"We couldn't attend a funeral as we simply couldn't afford to go.

"It's all ridiculous. I know these price rises are through the fuel companies but our governments haven't helped. They've constantly increased the taxation side."

While there are many who still don't probably realise just how much the cost of fuel is harming them, the people of Patrington are without doubt feeling the pain.