AS PETROL nudges £1 a litre, the answer for hard up motorists may just have parked-up in Southampton Pay-As-You-Go cars.

The new service gives businesses and individuals access to pay-as-you-go vehicles, which must be returned to their collection point, from £3.95 per hour.

The cost includes tax, insurance and enough free petrol for most short journeys.

Car club firm WhizzGo has teamed up with the city council to put on the service, which sees the cars, Citron C3 1.4 litre, parked in easily accessible and specially designated on-street bays across the city centre.

WhizzGo is now launching the service in major cities across the UK and hopes to have its Southampton service up and running by July, when precise location details will be available.

The company claims one WhizzGo car will typically replace six private vehicles and the project could cut congestion and pollution in the city centre.

WhizzGo's sales and marketing director, Guy Jones, said: "WhizzGo cars cost nothing when they are not being used as there are no monthly or annual fees, and parking is free.

"Compared to conventional car ownership, WhizzGo drivers save thousands of pounds a year especially with petrol prices rising over the £1 a litre mark.

"To run a car equivalent to the ones used by WhizzGo would cost £2,500 a year in depreciation, insurance and tax, and that's before you've moved a mile or paid a penny for petrol.

"Businesses that use WhizzGo have all these benefits but also cut out internal administration and fleet maintenance issues. WhizzGo provides a single fully itemised bill at the end of each month for both businesses and individual members."

Southampton councillor Jill Baston said: "The services they provide are a key part of our Local Transport Plan which aims to tackle congestion across the city and provide a more integrated and accessible transport system. We're confident WhizzGo will make a real difference to Southampton's residents."