A BOLTON garage continued to show two fingers to the petrol price war today - as another of Britain's major retailers slashed nearly 32p off a gallon. The Fourgates Service Station on the A6 between Westhoughton and Blackrod was today still charging an astonishing £4.55 a gallon for four star. But many furious drivers were still being caught out because the garage is doing only what it is required to do by law - showing the price per litre. Just down the road at Tesco, Horwich, unleaded four star is £2.45 a gallon and leaded £2.72 a gallon. The Fourgates service station is owned by Mr Jim Mole whose outlets across the North-west have become notorious for high fuel prices.

Police on Merseyside, where Mr Mole has garages, are now refusing to intervene when furious motorists drive off after filling up and then discovering the shock truth of what it costs. They are telling Mr Mole to take civil court action.

Trading Standards officers and the police say they are powerless to stop the extortionate charging because the garage chain is not breaking the law. Prices must be displayed on the pumps, but rules forcing owners to display them on the forecourt signs were abolished in 1992.

This week, as major companies like Shell, Esso and Gulf slashed recommended retail prices to as little as 56.9p a litre, Fourgates continued to charge 94.9p per litre for unleaded and 99.9p for four star. A spokesman for Merseyside police said the drivers had had the money to pay for the fuel and intended paying but, after finding out the bill, had argued over the price. He said they had not driven into the garage without money nor had they just driven off without trying to pay.

The BEN has tried repeatedly to contact Mr Mole but he has not been available.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.