An independent operator who runs three filling stations in the West Midlands believes he is currently selling the cheapest fuel in the UK.

Since Monday Velautham Sarveswaran, who runs the Harvest branded forecourt at Alcester Road, Redditch, as well as at Alcester Road South, Maypole, and at Abelwell Road, Walsall, has been selling unleaded petrol at 109.7ppl and diesel at 116.7ppl.

The prices have drawn a surge of customers with motorists queuing for up to half an hour and he says his Redditch site has sold out three times in past fortnight.

Despite the low prices he said he was still making 3.5ppl profit and added: “It’s a great feeling because we are passing on the benefits of the price cuts to the customers. They are praising us and they are happy.

“Normally we have local customers but more people are stopping here after seeing the prices.

“I believe we are the cheapest in the country, people have told me they can’t find it cheaper anywhere else.”

Velautham was critical of the supermarkets’ price-cutting tactics as the wholesale cost of fuel has plummeted saying: “The supermarkets should have done it quicker. They don’t put the prices down straight away, they make a fortune.

“Where I live, Sainsbury’s is still 115p. It makes me angry and then suddenly they wake up and cut their prices by 2p. They are cheating people.”