MOTORISTS in Kent are paying slightly less for petrol than they did a month ago, according to the Fuel-Cards.co.uk Regional Fuel Price Report.

Drivers who buy diesel are also paying slightly less for their fuel.

Unleaded petrol cost an average of 76.74 pence per litre across Kent, a fall of 0.46p since early February. Diesel is now an average of 78.43 pence per litre across the county, a fall of 0.34p.

Teresa Maynard of Castle Fuel Cards, who produce the price report, said: “Although petrol prices have not generally moved much this is actually bad news for businesses and private motorists since it means that last month’s half-pence rise has mostly stayed in place.

“With the possibility of tax rises in the future, it is as important as ever to keep an eye on petrol prices. The price of a tankful of unleaded petrol across Kent currently varies by about £5.50 depending where you buy.”

The cheapest place to buy petrol in Kent is currently Thanet, where the average price of unleaded petrol is 70.9 pence per litre. The most expensive is currently Hollingbourne, where petrol is an average of 80.9 pence per litre.

Motorists in Kent typically pay less than drivers in the rest of the UK for petrol. They also pay less than the rest of the country for diesel.

Highest average petrol price recorded on the Fuel-Cards.co.uk database is 85.9 pence per litre, at Thurso in Highland. Cheapest is 70.9 pence per litre, at Thanet, a difference of about £8.30 on a tankful.

The Fuel-Cards.co.uk Regional Price Report is issued by Castle Fuel Cards. The prices are average pump prices collected electronically from 12,000 forecourts across the UK.