NEW evidence has emerged of how drivers in South Wales are being hammered at the pumps.

A pressure group found some motorists in rural areas have to pay more than £30 more a month to get to work than people living in towns and cities.

Meanwhile, the RAC revealed drivers faced an inflation-busting 14 per cent hike in costs in the past year, mostly because of petrol price increases.

The Countryside Alliance warned the viability of rural businesses and communities was threatened by the spiralling costs of fuel.

Analysis by the group shows the average person in an urban area spends £50.95 a month on petrol for their commute to work, compared to £67.45 in more rural areas.

But the costs are much higher in parts of South Wales, led by Carmarthenshire, where the average monthly commute is £74.71.

Neath Port Talbot, at £62.14 and Swansea at £61.47 are also well above the urban average.

The highest figure in Britain is Eilean Siar on the Outer Hebrides, at £108.08, followed by Ceredigion at £91.12. The lowest is the City of London, at £26.93.

Jenny Dunn, policy researcher for the Countryside Alliance, said: "The unprecedented rise in fuel costs since the beginning of the year has placed a heavy burden on people who need their car to get to work.

"This burden weighs far heavier on rural people, for whom cars are a necessity due to the long commutes and lack of public transport options.

"The Countryside Alliance is urging the Chancellor to take action on the cost of fuel as a matter of urgency by cutting fuel duty. The future viability of rural businesses and communities are under severe threat from the spiralling costs of driving."

Wales Office Minister David Jones, Clwyd West MP, said the Government's tax measures meant petrol prices were 6p per litre lower than they would have been.

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