The Petrol Retailers’ Association (PRA) has questioned Downing Street’s plans to force motorway service areas to display the cost of fuel on road signs.

Service stations were identified by the Office of Fair Trading in its report on the service station sector, published in January, which suggested that prices at motorway forecourts were often much higher than those elsewhere typically 8ppl more for diesel and 7.5ppl for petrol.

PRA chairman Brian Madderson said there were concerns drivers could be distracted by electronic signage, and that operators might have to put up prices to pay for the signs.