Before the US-Israel war with Iran, Naomi didn't think twice about filling up the family van for her young daughter's regular hospital trips. Now, fuel prices have surged, driving up the cost of taking 10-year-old Riziah—who was born with complex medical conditions—to hospital for vital care over 30 miles away in Liverpool.
"I don't want the children to see how worried we are," Naomi says.
BBC Panorama has spoken to families feeling the sudden financial hit of a war 3,000 miles away, as the cost of daily life rises. Naomi lives in Chorley, Lancashire, with her husband, daughter, and teenage son. Rising fuel costs have become a growing pressure for families who have no choice but to travel.
"We've just filled up the van and it's cost us just short of £130. How is that doable?" she says. The family is spending about £30 extra a week on diesel since the war started on 28 February. According to government data, diesel has risen 35% in nearly two months, while petrol is up 19%.
It’s not just travel costs. Naomi is worried about added pressure later this year when her home energy bills are likely to rise again. Riziah's condition means she relies on medical devices that use extra electricity, and the house must be kept warm all year round.
Energy consultancy Cornwall Insight predicts the price cap will increase to £1,843 a year for a typical household—up by more than 12%, or roughly £200.
One reason for the surge is the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway that normally carries a fifth of the world's oil. Iran began threatening shipping in retaliation for US and Israeli strikes, effectively shutting the strait. A ceasefire exists, but a standoff keeps it closed to most traffic.
Although the UK gets little gas from the region, the squeeze has pushed up international oil and gas prices, feeding through to UK bills. Increased fuel and energy costs are expected to be joined by rising food prices later this year.
Many households already have little capacity in their budgets, says economist Mohamed El-Erian: "What's happening now hits those that are most vulnerable."
Businesses face higher costs too. Most are absorbing them now, but further increases are likely passed on to consumers. Borrowers may be disappointed about interest rates: the Bank of England had been expected to cut rates, but inflation rose to 3.3% in March due to the war, and may peak at 3.5% to 4% this year.
Mortgage rates are rising sharply. The interest on an average five-year fixed rate mortgage is now 5.7%, up from 4.95% before the war. One affected is Iona in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. She currently pays £720 a month for her three-bedroom house, but her new rate will raise it to £1,020—a £300 increase.
"I was gobsmacked," she says. Iona is cutting out little luxuries like music shows and eating out. "I didn't think what was happening thousands of miles away would have a direct impact on my life and my family's life."