A website set-up by a small team of e-commerce enthusiasts, has been bought by the Basingstoke-based Automobile Association.

It now owns and operates Petrolbusters.com, which will allow users to log in for free access to find the cheapest petrol in their area.

The purchase is the first step in a series of planned improvements to the AA's website, www.theaa.com. It is designed to be the UK's unrivalled source of motoring, traffic and travel information on the web, when it relaunches before the end of the year.