A SUPERMARKET'S new self-service petrol pumps are driving some motorists away.

ASDA claims the new system at its Kendal store, which means petrol can only be paid for with plastic cards, will help to keep prices down. But some drivers say it will just keep them away.

Until last week, motorists could pay with either cash or cards at one of two manned kiosks at the petrol station.

This week, one motorist, 73-year-old Oxenholme man Edwin Brain, left the forecourt frustrated and without fuel after struggling with the new system.

"I was not too happy," said Mr Brain. "I did attempt to use the machine but it didn't accept my PIN. There seemed to be some teething problems, and the machine told me that I'd already entered my PIN twice. I was worried it would confiscate my card so I decided enough was enough and drove off to Lound Road garage where the petrol is the same price and you can pay by cash."

Mr Brain added that he was not the only customer who would be put off by the card-only system. "I think there will be some resistance to this, especially from older people who don't like using cards," he said.

But a spokeswoman for ASDA said the self-service system was for the benefit of the customer.

"Our commitment to customers is to always be the last retailer to raise petrol prices and the first to drop them," said press officer Claire Hufton. "In order for us to keep prices low the unmanned petrol stations help us to deliver this and also frees up additional parking spaces. The system is much speedier than the kiosk system and helps us keep queues down during busy peak times."