Dutch motorists have been crossing into Belgium to escape record fuel prices at home, turning border towns such as Turnhout into cheaper filling points.

Drivers in the Belgian border town of Turnhout formed lines at petrol stations on Monday to fill their vehicles and portable containers due to high fuel prices.

In contrast, fuelling stations in the nearby Dutch city of Tilburg remained largely deserted as motorists sought alternatives.

Petrol can cost more than 60 cents less per litre across the border, meaning drivers can save more than €30 on a 50-litre tank.

The price gap has long been driven partly by differences in fuel taxes, but the latest Middle East energy shock has piled further pressure on costs