MOTORISTS in Worcestershire have hit out at the hike in fuel prices, which have taken diesel to more than £1 a litre in some places.

The pockets of road users filling up today were a little emptier after a 2p rise in fuel duty.

The price of diesel per litre hit £101.9 at many of Worcester's service stations, including St Stephens in Droitwich Road, the BP garage in Castle Street, the Commandery Service Station in Bath Road, Blackpole Road Service Station, Lower Wick in Malvern Road and Clerkenleap Service Station in Bath Road. Unleaded at all of these sites hovered just below £1 a litre at 99.9p.

Adam Purshall, head of engineering and compliance at haulage firm TM Logistics in Martley said the increases would hit the business and ultimately the customers.

"It will increase our fuel spend dramatically," he said.

"We purchase around £5m litres of diesel per annum, so it's a considerable increase.

"It does get passed on to our customers."

Peter Reading, aged 55, of Broadway, near Evesham, said: "I don't mind paying extra tax on my fuel if I could just see some evidence that it's actually going to contribute to a greener environment, but the Government is losing the argument I think."

Edward Partridge, aged 24, said: "I live in Worcester and commute to Malvern every day for work so probably spent about £20 to £40 a week on petrol.

"That will go up to about an extra £5 to £10 per month. It will add up over the year.

"I would be quite happy to pay more for fuel if the roads were nicer, but they are not."

Shane Terrell, aged 31, of Hereford, said: "It's ridiculous, because in my job I'm on the road all the time.

"It's going to cost me an extra £50 to £60 a month."