Drivers angered by fuel price difference across Shropshire

Motorists in a Shropshire town today questioned why they are paying up to 6p a litre more for fuel than the rest of the county.

Fuel prices: BP prices at Woodside Road in Telford; The Shell garage in Cheshire Street, Market Drayton; Asda in Old Potts Way, Shrewsbury

Drivers in Market Drayton say they are being held to ransom as figures show they are paying much more for petrol and diesel.

The cheapest price for a litre of unleaded petrol in Market Drayton yesterday was 132.9p at Morrisons supermarket in Cheshire Street, with diesel priced at 138.9p.

The price was higher at the town's other station, Shell-owned Tower Services in Cheshire Street, where petrol was 133.9p and diesel 139.9p.

But prices were significantly lower in other towns in Shropshire and Mid Wales.

A map showing the cheapest pump prices for fuel on forecourts across the county - click on th e map to see it full size

The county's second highest priced town was Ludlow, with the Co-op garage in Foldgate Lane charging motorists 130.9p for petrol and 137.9p for diesel.

At WR Davies in Salop Road, Welshpool, unleaded cost 129.9p per litre and diesel at 137.9p per litre.

Meanwhile, at Stans Superstore in St Martins, near Oswestry, the price was 129.9p for unleaded and 136.9p for diesel.

And at the Whitchurch Bypass Service Station in Wrexham Road petrol was available for 128.9p and diesel 136.9p.

The cheapest fuel could be found in Telford and Shrewsbury.

At the Sainsbury's store, in Colliers Way, Telford, unleaded yesterday cost 126.9p per litre with diesel 133.9p. At Asda in Old Potts Way, Shrewsbury, unleaded was cheapest at 126.7p with diesel 133.7p.

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It means Market Drayton motorists are paying at least six pence more for a litre of fuel compared to those filling up in Telford or Shrewsbury.

Motorist Peter Taylor, from Market Drayton, said: "I feel like we are being robbed. The price is excessively, high especially compared with stations in a 20-mile radius.

"I went down to London a few weeks ago and it's even cheaper there. I went to Cosford last week and filled up there because it was five pence cheaper and today I'm off to Crewe, so I will fill up there.

"Because of the price, you have to fill up out of town whenever you can. Some of my friends never fill up in Market Drayton unless they really have to. Everyone thinks it's one big con."

Frances Payne, from Market Drayton, said: "We prefer to go to Newcastle, Shrewsbury, Crewe or Nantwich to fill up because it is cheaper. I have no idea why Morrisons in one area is cheaper than in the other. It's ridiculous."

In Mid Wales, Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies has long campaigned for a rural fuel tax break to be brought in.

A spokesman for Morrisons said: "We have a policy where we aim to be among the cheapest in town."

A spokesman for Shell said: "Stations that are company-owned are set nationally and are pretty consistent. Stations that are dealer-owned can charge whatever they wish. The station in Market Drayton is company-owned while the station in Telford is dealer-owned."