LACK of availability of ultra low sulphur diesel is likely to hinder driver demand for the 'green' fuel incentivised in the Budget. The AA this week claimed to have been inundated with calls from eco-friendly motorists wanting to find out where they could buy the fuel.

However, Government figures reveal there are only about 270 outlets in the UK and the motoring organisation said the number of calls it had received reinforced its view that motorists will switch to cleaner fuels if they are given incentives to buy them.One in 10 calls into the organisation's technical advice unit are now from drivers asking where they can buy Citydiesel.

Fuel duty on ultra low sulphur diesel in the Budget was increased by 4.4p a litre compared to 5.5p a litre for regular diesel.