PETROL prices are, mercifully, starting to reduce gradually after peaking at an average of 190.6p per litre in mid-July.

Given that this time last year prices sat at around 130p per litre, the recent drop in prices has only been of little consolation – but some petrol stations in Colchester are dropping the price more readily than others.

With the current average petrol price sitting at 184.50p per litre, here are the petrol stations around town which charge over the odds for what is, for commuters, a basic necessity.

1st – BP (Ipswich Road): 189.9p per litre

This garage may be 8p cheaper than it was a few weeks ago, but it is still one of the most expensive in Colchester. 50 litres of fuel here costs £94.95.

2nd – Esso (Halstead Road): 187.9p per litre

This Esso garage in Eight Ash Green is slightly cheaper than BP, but is still one of the priciest in the area. The final bill here comes to £93.95 for 50 litres of fuel.

3rd – BP (London Road) and Co-Op (Peartree Road): 186.9p per litre

As one of the oil giants, it comes as little surprise that BP has both the most and the third-most expensive prices for fuel in Colchester. But this week sees the Co-Op filling station in Peartree Road sell at a similar price. A 50-litre tank at either filling station costs £93.45.

5th – Sainsbury’s (Stanway): 185.9p per litre

Sainsbury’s is normally quite competitive with its supermarket rivals for fuel prices, but this week it is some way behind Tesco and Asda. 50 litres of fuel costs £92.95 here.

6th – Tesco (Highwoods and Hythe): 184.9p per litre

Coming in at sixth, Tesco has some of the less expensive fuel in Colchester, with the 184.9p per litre seeing the total bill for 50 litres of fuel come closer to the £90 mark. £92.45 is the total price for 50 litres here.

7th – BP (Mersea Road): 182.9p per litre

Surprisingly, this BP garage is at the more affordable end of the spectrum for petrol. The final price here is £91.45.

8th – Asda (Turner Road): 177.7p per litre

Coming in way cheaper than the rest is the Asda supermarket in Turner Road. At 177.7p per litre, 50 litres of fuel here costs £88.85, which makes it £6 cheaper than the most expensive forecourt in Colchester.