MOTORISTS up and down the country can't have failed to notice the rising fuel prices over recent weeks.

A litre of the fuel is now at an eight-year high, costing an average of £1.32 at UK forecourts, Government figures show, having risen for 32 consecutive weeks.

But motorists in Whitchurch will be pleased to know they are paying less than that at the pumps.

The cheapest garage is Texaco at Grindley Brook charging 127.9p per litre, followed by the Shell at Victoria Garage in Whitchurch at 129.9ppl.

The Esso at Prees Heath charges 131.9ppl, while Texaco at Mere Motors in Ellesmere charges 133.9ppl, followed by Esso on Whitchurch Bypass at 134.9ppl.

Steve Gooding, director of motoring research charity the RAC Foundation, said that the rise in petrol prices means it was “no surprise” that more than one in 10 new cars sold in June were pure electric.

He continued: “With the oil price continuing to rise, and pump prices not far behind, it seems more and more people are doing the sums and finding that despite high purchase prices, the running costs of battery-powered vehicles really are too low to ignore.”

Average fuel costs were just £1.05 per litre of petrol and £1.12 per litre of diesel in May 2020, when the global shutdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic led to a collapse in the value of oil.

However, figures for diesel in Whitchurch are very similar to petrol with the Texaco at Grindley Brook charging 126.9p per litre, followed by the Shell at Victoria Garage in Whitchurch at 129.9ppl.

Texaco at Mere Motors in Ellesmere charges 135.9ppl, followed by Esso on Whitchurch Bypass at 136.9ppl.

Figures for the Esso at Prees Heath are not available.