UK petrol consumption has fallen compared with a year ago, despite it being 14ppl cheaper.

UK fuel consumption figures released by HM Revenue and Customs show that petrol consumption flat-lined at around 1.475 billion litres a month from May to July.

This is lower than last summer when petrol averaged as much as 131.70ppl, compared with a maximum of 117.28ppl this summer.

"With the sun and heatwaves in June and July, the UK looked set for a bumper motoring summer, commented Paul Watters, the AA’s head of motoring policy."

"But, with UK petrol consumption at a level normally associated with winter months, the season barely got going. This is astonishing, particularly with petrol 14ppl cheaper than a year ago." He blamed the increase in prices between February and June.