INVERCLYDE’S MSP Stuart McMillan, is urging local supermarkets and fuel providers to bring down their petrol prices — some of which are as much as 10 pence more expensive than in Edinburgh.

Currently diesel in Inverclyde is on average 122.9 pence per litre, with Morrisons in Greenock retailing as high as 123.9 pence.

Unleaded is not much cheaper, coming in at 119.9 pence on average in the local area.

In the capital, petrol is as low as 110.9 pence on average, and in Glasgow the average price is 116.9 pence, cheaper than Inverclyde.

Mr McMillan said: “Petrol prices in Inverclyde have soared in recent months yet have stayed at a consistent lower price in other regions.

“It seems that the further away areas are from central locations, such as city centres, the more expensive the petrol is.

“If petrol prices are not consistent across the whole of Scotland, then retailers have the ability to alter the amount they charge.

“There’s no reason then why my constituents should have to pay almost 10 pence more per litre than those living in the likes of Edinburgh.

“The cost really does mount up, as 20 litres at 110.9 pence costs £22.18, whereas the same volume of petrol at 119.9 pence — the current cost of unleaded in Inverclyde — comes in at £23.98.

“If you topped up by this amount every week for a month, you would pay £7.20 more a month than if you lived in the capital. Over the course of a year, this would be £86.40.

“When I last spoke on this issue, and the Greenock Telegraph ran a campaign to get local retailers to reduce their petrol prices, the fuel providers did listen and brought down the cost.

“I’m therefore urging local supermarkets to do the same again.

“While this would be a great early Christmas present for the people of Inverclyde, I hope that the retailers do not then hike up the prices in the New Year and instead keep the prices low.

“Once again I have written to the supermarkets looking for action.”