Petrol breakdowns rise 14% over last year, says AA

Car breakdown services have seen a rise in the number of people breaking down because they have run out of petrol.

The AA says it has seen a 14% rise in callouts over the past year. It is getting on average 450 per week and is on course for 23,000 this year.

Green Flag also says it has seen an increase.

The breakdown services are putting it down to the price in fuel, which has gone up by more than 30p a litre over the past five years.

Moneywise, it's thought most people are still putting the same amount in their cars but £30 now doesn't get you as far as it did a year ago.

Running out of fuel has happened twice to 28-year-old Rob Williams, a lorry driver in South Wales.

The first time he was outside work, the second time he was on the motorway.

'Gas guzzler'

"The car was starting to cough and splutter, it finally gave over as I was pulling into the hard shoulder," says Rob.

Lorry driver Rob Williams, 28, has had two 'fuel breakdowns'

He drives a 4x4 diesel and says he needs a big car because he has three children.

"It's a gas guzzler to say the least," he says. "It's near enough impossible to top it up to a full tank.

"It would cost me around £100 and three years ago that was about £70.

"I've had to switch jobs to a more local job to be able to reduce my costs. It just hits me in the pocket big time at the moment."

Running out of petrol can damage your car and because Rob drives a diesel it had to be looked at by a mechanic.

Luckily he knew one - if you don't it can be a pricey job.

Mechanic Richard Thomas says lately he's been picking up more cars that have run out of fuel.

"It's not so bad with a petrol car, but with a diesel car it's different," he explains. "You have an airlock in the car and you have to try to prime it.

"The problem with petrol cars is they pick up the sediment at the bottom of the tank and the car doesn't run properly as it's not having clean fuel."