Price of petrol soars

The price of petrol at the pumps has soared 5p a litre in less than two months, it was disclosed today.

Hard-hit motorists should brace themselves for further rises this summer, according to fleet and fuel management company Arval PHH.

Its research showed that average unleaded petrol prices on March 1 this year were 70.53p a litre, but had risen to 75.42p by the end of last week.

Over the same period, the national average price of diesel rose from 74.72p a litre to 77.04p.

"As the weather improves and people take more holidays, demand for unleaded fuel traditionally rises," said Arval's Danny Clenaghan.

He went on: "This is likely to drive prices even further upwards. All in all, it could be another expensive summer for British motorists."

During March 2002, the average price of unleaded petrol was 72.04p per litre. The cheapest was to be found in Fivemiletown, County Tyrone, at an average price of 67.70p, while the most expensive was Weisdale, Shetland Islands, at an average price of 79.60p.

The average price of diesel in March was 75.21p a litre. The cheapest was to be found in Droylsden, Greater Manchester, at an average price of 72.90p, while the most expensive was Stromness, Orkney Islands, at an average price of 83.50p.

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