RESIDENTS from Ross-on-Wye feel they are getting a raw deal when it comes to petrol prices in the county.

The BP garage at Ross Spur Services near to junction 4 of the M50 was charging 127.9p per litre of petrol on Saturday, while Morrisons in Ross was charging 118.9p.

Meanwhile in Hereford, Asda was charging just 113.7p per litre, 14.2p less than the most expensive petrol in Ross.

Mark Robinson, who lives near Ross in Sellack, said: "I don't know how they can justify their prices. I raised it on the Ross-on-Wye noticeboard Facebook page and someone else has also raised it.

"It is quite an interest. Normally supermarkets are quite fairly close to each other. Whether Asda is doing it as a lost leader. But if they can do it, why aren't the others?

"I was bit miffed. Luckily I go into Hereford twice a week. I wouldn't go especially for it. What you save you would probably lose in petrol."

The average price in the UK on Monday was 118.46p per litre of petrol- the most expensive was 136.9p, while the cheapest was 111.7p.

For diesel the average is 121.15p and the most expensive was 138.9p, while the cheapest was 113.7p.

In the other side of the county on the way to Leominster, the Esso garage at Hope under Dinmore is charging 119.9p per litre for unleaded.

Prices at the pumps started to increase in December following a rise in the global price of oil.

Ross Spur Services is owned by Euro Garages and is listed as motorway services, despite it being on the A449.

Recent figures from the RAC said motorists filling up at a motorway fuel station can expect to pay up to 15p per litre more.

This can be due to the higher rental costs on the motorway.

Other reasons prices can vary is due to transport costs (if the garage is in a rural area), how big the company is which runs the petrol station, the size of the competition, the size of the customer base and how affluent the area is.

Supermarkets are in competition with each other and will often offer cheaper petrol to tempt customers to do their weekly shop.

Around two thirds of the price of fuel is made up of taxes imposed by the government, while the remaining cost depends on the costs of drilling, refining and transporting, and the profit margins for the fuel companies.