DORSET drivers are forking out more than £1 a litre for petrol as global oil prices continue to rocket.

The UK average price of a litre of unleaded fuel has broken the £1 barrier for the first time, with diesel even higher at more than 103p.

Prices have risen sharply in recent weeks amid fears of supply problems and due to the weak dollar. Duty was also increased by 2p per litre from the start of last month.

Supply concerns have centred on a number of factors including Iran's stand-off with the West over its nuclear ambitions.

At Bath Road Service Station in Bournemouth, a litre of unleaded fuel remained at 98.9p yesterday.

But the filling station appeared to be in the minority as most others crept above the £1 mark.

Tesco's Castle Lane East petrol station was charging 100.9p for a litre of unleaded fuel and the Murco Garage in Southbourne Grove was charging 101.9p.

In more rural areas prices appeared to be even higher with Cornwall Garages in Shillingstone and Fordingbridge Service Station in Southampton Road both selling at 102.9p per litre.

Motorists in Bournemouth said they were not happy about the rise but would not be changing their driving habits.

Andrew Maxey, an electrician's assistant from Poole, said: "I've noticed it but I tend to just pay the extra and put up with it. I need my car so don't really have much choice."

Eighty three-year-old Bill Ross, of Dean Park, said he could remember when petrol was one and nine pence a gallon.

"I just fill up as normal, just like I've been doing for the past 60 years," he said. "The rises are necessary because of the price of oil."

Daniel Bristow, 21, who works in Dingles in Bournemouth, said: "I don't drive that much so haven't really noticed prices going up.

"I think it's stupid the amount of tax the government puts on petrol but I suppose with everything going on in Iraq, it's understandable."

And non-driver David McLean, a retired furnisher from Bournemouth, said he didn't think the price hike would deter motorists. "Whatever the price is, people will still buy it," he said. "It won't make any difference at all. It will just mean the government gets more money and people will moan about it."