A PETROL retailer has held out hopes that fuel prices may fall this summer.

Chris Stern, of Paddock-based C J Stern (Oils) Ltd, said further reductions in the price of crude could prompt a cut in prices on the forecourts.

He said: “I don’t think we will see any increases in the short-term. As things stand, we have a pretty stable market at the moment.

“You can never tell what’s around the corner, but if crude oil prices move down, we may see reductions at the pumps.”

His comments came as a survey by the AA motoring organisation showed that more than three in four motorists are cutting back on spending or driving due to rising fuel prices.

The AA/Populus survey showed that just under half of those polled blame the Government for the high cost of fuel. Next to take the rap were the oil companies and oil-producing countries.

The survey showed that the number of people affected by the hike in petrol and diesel prices has risen from 63% at Christmas to 76% now.

Compared with 2007, a total of 31% of drivers say they now travel less by car, 16% have cut back on other expenditure and 29% have reduced both spending and motoring.

AA president Edmund King said: “The cost of fuel is top of drivers’ concerns. The number of drivers adversely affected by fuel prices is now running at an all-time high of 76%.”

Mr Stern said he had detected an “ever so slight” fall in spending on fuel, but said: “More people are predicted to take their summer holidays in the UK than ever before, which might create more demand.

“Many people have to use the car to go about their daily business, so even in a recession, one of the last things to go is the set of wheels.

“We have come through a recession, but in that sense the fuel retail industry has hardly noticed it.”

Mr Stern said lowest prices in Huddersfield now stood at 132p to 133.9p a litre for unleaded and 136p to 137.9p for diesel. Prices at the top end were about 3p a litre more.

Prices in Huddersfield were below the national average due to strong competition among retailers including supermarket giants Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons.