BP was set to cut fuel prices at an Abingdon garage today (May 1) after the Oxford Mail pointed out they were unusually high.

Malcolm Phipps

Yesterday, the BP Vineyard Service Station was charging 82.9p for diesel and 80.9p for unleaded -- 2p more than the nearby Tesco superstore in Marcham Road.

The price cut comes after building consultant Malcolm Phipps, of Spenlove Close, Abingdon, complained that BP's prices in the town had not fallen, despite reductions elsewhere because of the availability of cheaper crude oil, after the war in Iraq.

Mr Phipps, 63, said he had seen forecourt prices of 75.9p a litre for diesel elsewhere in the country.

He added: "That's about a 10 per cent difference or, for me, about £3 on a tank."

Welcoming the price cut, he said: "It's good news. But they should have done it ages ago."

BP spokesman Clive Kirkham, said the average price at the company's 1,200 outlets across the UK yesterday was 77.1p a litre for unleaded and 79.8p for diesel.

He said local competition would impact on price difference.

He blamed a communication glitch for high prices at the Vineyard Service Station.

A recent survey by the AA found that Oxfordshire was one of the most expensive areas in the country for fuel.