DORSET drivers are paying among the highest petrol prices in the UK as the country suffers a north-south divide, the latest figures show.

Southern drivers fare the worst in mainland Britain, with only London and the south east suffering higher fuel prices than south west motorists.

The average price of a litre of petrol has fallen from an all-time high of 121.6p in mid-May to 118.08p now, an AA fuel price report revealed yesterday.

In the south west the average price of unleaded is 121.6p, with diesel at 123.0p.

Luke Bodset, of the AA, said: “Basically, you may be paying more in and around the Bournemouth area, compared to the north, because the north is the heartland of Asda and Morrisons.”

The cheapest petrol in the UK can be found in Yorkshire and Humberside, where the average is 116.8p a litre for unleaded.

Mr Bodset said: “The smaller rural petrol stations, like you have in many parts of Dorset, have to be treated separately, because they have lost so many of their numbers.

“These stations sell a lot less fuel, but still have to meet their overheads., so obviously the price of fuel will be more expensive. But it is a case of use them, or lose them I’m afraid.”

The cheapest petrol in the Poole area can currently be found at Asda Canford Heath, Windgreen Service Station at Corfe Mullen, and Sainsburys Talbot Heath. Unleaded is 114.9p a litre at all three stations.

In Poole, Tesco at Fleetsbridge, is selling unleaded for 115.9p per litre, and diesel for 118.9p.

Meanwhile, the Shell garage on Poole’s Waterloo Road has unleaded at 114.9p and diesel at 117.9.

But the prices rise sharply when heading out of town.

At the Wool railway crossing Texeco unleaded is 120.9p and diesel 121.9p.

Meanwhile, diesel is 125.9 at Holton Heath’s filling station.

AA president Edmund King said: “Wholesale petrol prices tumbled from around 40p a litre in early May to around 36p by May 24.

“Although Asda and Morrison largely passed on the entire saving, other supermarkets have been much more selective as to which customers are enjoying the full respite from record high prices.”