THE Hexham population appears to be getting a raw deal from the operator of the Shell filling station in Hexham – present operators as well as previous ones.

Fuel duty on diesel is £2.63 per gallon. VAT is charged at 20 per cent on price of the fuel to retailer, plus duty to arrive at cost price.

The price of diesel today at Hexham filling station is 103.9p per litre, or £4.71 per gallon. Excluding VAT, this is £3.93. Excluding duty, this is £1.30 per gallon – the amount customers are paying the operator, excluding duty and VAT.

I filled my car up tonight with diesel at Morrisons filling station at Cowgate, Newcastle. It cost 97.7 per litre, or £4.43 per gallon. Excluding VAT, this is £3.69. Excluding duty, this is £1.06 per gallon - the amount customers are paying Morrisons, excluding duty and VAT.

The difference between Hexham’s Shell station and Morrisons is 28.148p per gallon, or 23.457p excluding VAT. Hexham residents are being charged 22.1 per cent more than Newcastle residents for their fuel, excluding effect of duty and VAT.

Maybe Hexham residents should be told why they are being charged so much more.

The monopoly situation is absolutely disgusting and unless Hexham filling station’s operator can successfully explain its excessive pricing, Hexham residents should think very carefully about where they buy their fuel.

TONY BROOKES,

Hexham