PETROL prices in Greater Manchester have gone past the £1 a litre mark, as Britain began to feel the effects of the oil crisis triggered by Hurricane Katrina.
Garage owners there said they were left with no alternative, with one charging £1.05 for unleaded fuel.
But a poll by the M.E.N. revealed garages were still selling at 92.9p or 93.9p a litre nearer home, although at least two were charging 96.9p - one in Sale and one in Salford.
Commentators have warned more petrol stations will raise their prices over the coming days and weeks.
Viv Dodd, chief executive of Cumbria Chamber of Commerce, said: "I'm sure it won't be too long before more people charge £1 and more."
Alternatives
Some hauliers are considering alternative fuels, including gas and vegetable oil, to keep solvent. Experts partly blame the European oil shortage on shipping oil reserves to the US after key refineries were disabled by the hurricane.
Ruth Bridger, the AA Motoring Trust's petrol price analyst, said drivers could be hit with more increases if there were more disruptions to world oil supplies.
The trust reported last month that some petrol stations in the Scottish islands were selling at £1 a litre.
The average price for a litre of unleaded was 89.86p nationally at the start of August. It is now 94.75p.
Do you know of any garages selling petrol at £1 a litre? If so, call the newsdesk on 0161 211 2323 or email us.
Comments
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I pay 1.26 canadian which is a rip off. Last year petrol was 70 cents a litre. The cost of petrol has spiralled the last few years and has to stop. People should car pool use public transport so these oil companies feel it in their pocket.
Go to Asda - it's around 89p there (or at least it is at my local store). I'm sure the other supermarkets are just as cheap as well.
1.26 Canadian is not a rip-off compared to UK prices. In any event I'm paying only 1.03 Canadian at the moment.
That's about 47p per litre. I'll settle for that thanks.
If the alternatives were not so expensive I would use them but even at over B#1 per litre it is still cheaper and quicker for me to drive to work than take the train, although I spend about 20% of my wage on travel to work. Prices should be brought back into a reasonable price bracket. I will back any protest that may occur over the next few days.
Fuel taxes are high because we are all daft enough to pay them. Although if we weren't screwed on petrol we would be even more badly screwed on something else. As for the hauliers, I have no sympathy. You chose your line of business and if it is not economic for you why not do something else?. freight should be sent by rail as much a spossible anyway.