THOUSANDS of drivers every year are being hit with major repair bills after putting the wrong fuel in their car - and the problem is getting worse, according to the AA Motoring Trust.

Nationally, around 120,000 motorists make the mistake each year. The average repair bill is £150, but they can be as much as £3,000. It is increasingly caused by drivers mistakenly putting petrol into diesel-engine cars.

Now the AA Trust and petrol retailers are launching an information campaign to tackle the problem.

This month, petrol nozzles at selected petrol retailers in the area will carry messages alerting drivers to the issue, while cards carrying the warning will be distributed to AA members through three million copies of the AA Magazine.

Later in the year, petrol stations across the country will distribute millions more cards with petrol receipts.

The campaign is being supported by the UK Petroleum Industry Association, the Petrol Retailers' Association, the Association of UK Oil Independents and the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association.

The recent boom in the sales of diesel cars, which now account for one in four new cars sold, means that opportunities for forecourt confusion will continue unless something is done to prevent it.

Last year, the AA breakdown service was called to 43,000 cars which had broken down because the wrong fuel had been put into the tank.

Drivers can find out more about the problems of misfuelling by logging on to www.aatrust.com