Motorway drivers are being charged up to 91 per cent more for drinks and snacks at service stations compared with the high street, consumer experts say.

WH Smith, Marks & Spencer and Burger King have been accused of taking advantage of millions of motorists who have little alternative if they want to stop to eat.

The high price of stopping off for a snack comes on top of the premium drivers have to pay for petrol and diesel from motorway petrol stations. 

WH Smith was found to be imposing the biggest mark-ups, according to What Car? researchers.

A 750ml bottle of Buxton water was £1.91 at the chain’s motorway branches – 91 per cent more than the £1 at its high street stores.

Meanwhile, a 500ml bottle of Coke was 18.2 per cent more, at £1.69.

Marks & Spencer has made a move into service stations with its Simply Food outlets. The survey found its still Scottish water was 25 per cent more expensive there, with a price of £1, while its egg and bacon sandwich was 16 per cent more at £2.90.

Hot food was also considerably more expensive. A Burger King double cheeseburger meal came in at £6.15 on the motorway, which is 12 per cent more than a normal outlet.

The high prices were condemned by the AA’s head of road policy, Paul Watters, who said: ‘Britain’s motorway service services are still too expensive, and we don’t think tired drivers should be deterred from stopping for a break by high prices.’

The researchers found that unleaded petrol was typically 5.2 per cent more expensive at a motorway service station, while diesel was marked up by 3.4 per cent.

What Car? said consumers filling their tanks solely at motorway services would pay on average £77 more per year. Its editor-in-chief, Steve Fowler, said: ‘It is unforgiveable for retailers to take advantage of motorists in such a brazen manner.

‘We suggest that all motorway users plan their journeys carefully and try to avoid using such greedy retailers as much as possible.’

A number of websites and books offer alternative places to buy petrol and food. These include 5minutesaway.co.uk and Offmotorway.com.

The retailers blamed franchise partners for the higher prices. A WH Smith spokesman said: ‘The overall line-by-line pricing is set by RoadChef, Moto and Welcome Break within broad pricing strategy guidelines given by WH Smith.’

Burger King said: ‘We continue to work closely with our franchise partners who set the prices in the Burger King travel and leisure restaurants to keep prices in line with the rest of the estate.’

Maybe the solution is to take a packed lunch and a bottle filled with tap water!

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