THE SOARING cost of diesel fuel has led to a huge increase in robberies on farms which keep their own fuel supplies – and has led to the death of a farmer’s wife in the North East.

Although farmers are allowed to buy “red diesel” at a tax-free 71p per litre – it is dyed to prevent its illegal use in anything but farm vehicles – unscrupulous drivers are prepared to take the risk as forecourt prices soar towards the £6 a gallon mark.

This has encouraged thieves to step up their attacks on farm pumps and NFU Mutual, the insurance company used by many farmers, say that such raids have increased by a massive 75% in recent months.

A farmer’s wife and her son tried to ward off a gang of thieves stealing diesel at their County Durham farm at the weekend. The son was run over by the gang and his mother died of a heart attack as a result of the shock.

Fuel thieves have long been active in remoter areas of the Yorkshire Dales, targeting not only farms but also garages.

A filling station on the A65 near Clapham was robbed of thousands of litres of fuel not once but twice. It has now closed down, adding to the problems of rural motorists who sometimes have to drive many miles just to fill up.