Petrol retailers have defended their position over the delay in reducing pump prices despite a fall in the cost of oil.

The price of a barrel of oil has been fluctuating widely, rising and falling by more than £13 in a day.

However, over the past few weeks, there has been an overall fall in the price.

“Prices for crude oil and forecourt fuel are obviously linked but they do not move in tandem.

"Therefore they do not automatically move up or down at the same time,” said Ray Holloway, director of the Petrol Retailers Association.

“Between 1 August and 12 September, the price of a barrel of crude oil fell by 20.1%.

"In the same period the cost of petrol supplied to retailers did not change.”

Mr Holloway said the price of fuel will decline during the autumn: “UK motorists can expect forecourt prices to fall though until the end of October.”