PRESSURE from motorists and striking tanker drivers have done nothing to put garages off bumping up prices.

Tom Potter

PRESSURE from motorists and striking tanker drivers have done nothing to put garages off bumping up prices.

This week saw another steady increase in fuel prices and figures show that the price of both petrol and diesel at UK pumps has risen by record margins over the last month.

In the Ipswich area, price rises have reflected the national trend with the cost of unleaded finally breaching the £1.20 mark. For a litre of diesel, drivers are now expected to pay at least £1.27.

The AA's Fuel Price Report for June showed that, on average, UK petrol prices soared by 5.6p per litre between mid May and mid June, while diesel shot up 7.4p.

In our region, Shell Ranelagh and Morrisons in Sproughton Rd remain the cheapest places to buy unleaded.

Shell Ranelagh is also the place to buy the least expensive diesel, along with Shell Whitehouse.

BP Roundwood is the only forecourt to have frozen prices since last week as most garages push customers to their spending limits.

BP Anson Road Martlesham Heath still holds the title of most expensive fuel in the area, while Sainsbury's Hadleigh Road and Shell Orwell Bridge saw the sharpest rises in prices. Both garages put unleaded up by 2p and diesel up 3p.

The average cost of petrol in the UK is now 118.16p per litre, while diesel stands at 131.56p per litre.