Britons buy 20% less fuel

• High prices force motorists out of cars
• British price rises are higher than Europe's
• Drop-off in car use also higher in Britain

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British motorists have bought 20% less fuel in the past year, indicating that rising costs are forcing them to leave their cars at home.

According to the International Energy Agency (IAE), a part of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), motorists are choosing to take public transport instead as their cars become too expensive to run.

Research also shows that the drop in demand for petrol in Britain is also greater than in other countries - and that prices in Britain have risen more than in other countries.

The IEA figures show that the cost of unleaded petrol has risen by 20% in Britain over the past year.

In contrast, prices across Europe have risen by an average of 14%. In Italy and Germany, prices rose by less than 10%.