LEYLAND'S motorists are feeling the pinch after another petrol price rise sent the cost of fuel above 80 pence per litre for the first time.

In January, petrol cost little over 65 pence per litre, but a series of tax increases - designed to force drivers off the road - and an upsurge in the price of crude oil has left drivers shelling out more than ever before.

Unleaded fuel in Preston costs about 74.9 pence per litre, compared with 63.7 pence in January, while diesel fuel is now averaging 76.9 pence.

At the Sainsburys store in Deepdale, unleaded costs 73.8 pence, diesel 75.9 pence and LRP 79.9 pence. Texaco on Garstang Road is charging 74.9 pence, 76.9 pence and 81,9 pence respectively, while the Shell garage at Withy Trees is setting customers back 80.9 per litre for LRP and 76.6 pence for unleaded.

Matthew Joint, campaigns manager for the AA, said: "Since February, prices have gone up so quickly that a gallon of unleaded petrol is now 44p more expensive than six months ago. We have a huge amount of tax on top of the crude oil price and it's time the government did something about it."

A spokesman for Esso UK said: "The rise in crude oil prices, now at $26 dollars a barrel, has had had a knock-on effect and prices have had to be a adjusted accordingly."

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