IT'S that time of year again when most of us consider using the motorways. Whether it's a short trip to the airport or a lengthy drive to Land's End, the question of what to eat is one that we tend to forget.

It's all too easy to rely on service stations for a break from the monotony of the roads and to keep our passengers happy, but a recent Which? survey has revealed that we are not getting acceptable food for the price we pay.

Inspectors from the Good Food Guide visited 39 service stations across the country to test the standard of food against the price.

After their visits, one inspector went as far as saying that he would probably now avoid all motorway service stations.

There are currently 76 service stations across the country and many of us are bound to have visited at least one.

It may come as no surprise that only three companies dominate the roads, owning 71 of these between them. They are Welcome Break, Granada and Road Chef.

The Which? inspectors found the standard of these services ranging from very poor to acceptable, far below the standard we'd like to expect when stopping off for a meal break.

"A typical family meal varies from around £19 at Granada's Fresh Express to about £27 at Road Chef's Food Fayre (based on two main meals, drinks, pastries, plus two kids meals and drinks)," says the report.

"Although Fresh Express was cheapest, the food was so poor that our inspectors rated it worst value for money."

The services all gave the same reasons to explain their prices - they reflect the cost of services they have to provide.

Each services has free parking, toilets and other facilities, most of them are open 24 hours and staff costs are higher than at High Street shops and restaurants.

Recently services have started to include high street fast food chains among the choices for customers.

But how many of us have noticed the difference in price between food in the Burger King in our city centre and in the same chain on the motorway?

Often the prices are highly inflated. One example showed that a Whopper meal can sometimes be as much as £1.30 more when bought on the motorway.

So what is the answer to saving money but still being fed?

If all you are after is something to eat and you're not too bothered whether it's a sandwich, rather than cold baked beans and stale chips there are plenty of options.

Subway, at The Cross, has a variety of rolls which it makes to order.

Ham, egg or prawn six-inch subs cost £1.99, roast beef is £2.49 and the turkey or tuna rolls are £2.29. Each comes with salad and dressing of your choice.

Boots also has a variety of sandwiches and baguettes in the chiller cabinet.

A smoked ham and cheddar baguette costs £2.09, an egg sandwich is £1.09.

Alternatively, you can try a medium tuna pocket at £1.99, a prawn cocktail sandwich at £1.49 or a roast chicken sandwich at £1.69.

Boots has a meal deal offer on at the moment and these last three sandwiches are included. For £2.50 you can buy a stickered sandwich, a bottle of coca-cola/diet coke and a packet of either Walkers or Shapers crisps.

Marks & Spencer also has a wide range of sandwiches in store. A prawn and mayo sandwich is £1.30, while tuna and salad on tomato and mixed seed bread will only set you back £2.

M&S also has a chicken and salad sandwich for £1.60, egg and cress for £1 and a roast beef and onion baguette for £2.50 among its selection.

Most sandwiches can be bought the day before you head for the motorway and kept in the fridge until the next day, saving you time and money.

When you stop at services, you can then sit outside eating a picnic rather than in the restaurant wondering why you spent as much as you did on a meal that you're not enjoying.

There's also a web-site, which provides a guide to services within five minutes or three miles of motorway junctions.

www.5minutesaway.co.uk gives details of cafes, pubs, restaurants, supermarkets and garages where hungry passengers can be fed.