Rural motorists running on empty as pumps close

Rural motorists are having to drive farther to buy petrol as more than 600 filling stations a year close.

Small independent garages are being forced out of business by fierce competition from supermarkets and the higher costs of transporting fuel to country areas.

Many pay more to buy fuel from their suppliers than the price supermarkets charge the public and make little or no profit on petrol sales.

Last summer the number of forecourts across Britain fell below 10,000 for the first time since 1912. More than 3,300 have closed in the past five years.

The closures are leaving motorists in some rural areas 30 miles away from their nearest forecourt.

The Telegraph