Drivers in Scotland and Northern Ireland are paying the most for fuel with petrol finally breaking the 80 pence per litre barrier.

The average price for a litre of petrol in Northern Ireland is 80.2 pence and in Scotland it's 79.9 pence. In Wales the price is 79 and in England, 78.6 pence.

Martin Hender, director of fuel at Arval PHH which carried out the research, said: "80 pence per litre is a psychological break-point. There was immense pressure on the oil companies to keep the price below that point around the election to avoid a repeat of last year's fuel protests.

"However, now the election has passed, the price is creeping upwards. The Treasury obviously continues to see motorists as 'cash cows' despite the harm these fuel prices are having on British business."

The most expensive place to fill up for unleaded petrol was Belfast at an average of 79.91ppl (363.28 pence per gallon) and for diesel, Oban at an average of 79.58ppl (361.79 pence per gallon).

The cheapest place for unleaded was Southend (77.59ppl/352.74 pence per gallon) and for diesel Southend again (76.71ppl/348.72 pence per gallon).