Petrol stations charging rip-off prices could be ‘named & shamed’ under new plan

THE government could set up a “pumpwatch” scheme so drivers are not swindled at the forecourt — in a victory for The Sun’s Keep It Down campaign.

Officials have drawn up options so drivers are directed to cheap petrol stations and avoid rip-off merchants.

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It comes after greedy petrol stations failed to pass on the 5p fuel duty cut.

Yesterday, petrol made its biggest daily jump in price in 17 years.

It now costs an eye-watering £100 to fill up a family car and Downing Street is furious at garages “taking the p***”.

Petrol stations have only passed on around half of the 5p fuel duty cut to hard-pressed motorists, research has found.

The most popular “name and shame” Pumpwatch option being considered is a scheme that copies one run in Northern Ireland.

This is a website where drivers can look at a map showing them the average price for petrol and diesel in every town.

In Britain, this would be run by the Competitions and Markets Authority (CMA).

One government insider told The Sun: “It is being looked at.”

Boris Johnson’s official spokesman yesterday criticised the big “variations” in prices at garages and dropped a heavy hint that a scheme is imminent.

He said: “We do want to see it passed on at all sites and petrol stations and we are not confident that is happening.”

Asked about a pumpwatch, the spokesman added: “We are looking at all possible options and transparency may have a role to play in that.”