Unleaded fuel at nine-month high

The price of fuel is a concern for many motorists

The average price of a litre of unleaded petrol in the UK has risen above 96 pence for the first time since August last year.

Analysts say the price rise is largely due to the gradual rise in the price of crude oil.

This has coincided with the usual heavy demand for petrol during the American summer driving season.

Unleaded petrol cost 96.04p per litre on average, with diesel at 96.84p according to fuel analysts, Catalist.

On Thursday, Brent crude oil gained 3.3%, rising $2 (£1) to an eight-month high of $70.27 a barrel, due to fears that problems at US refineries, where output levels are already low, could constrict petrol supplies.

On Friday, Crude fell back to just above the $70 mark.