THE Government is fleecing motorists dry, according to shock new figures.

It is now estimated that the Treasury takes a whopping £1,000,000,000 off Northern Ireland drivers every year.

And more than half of the figures is made up of fuel duty – the tax on petrol and diesel bought on the forecourts up and down the country.

According to the figures, the Treasury annually collects from motorists:

* £230 million on VAT;

* £580 million in fuel duty;

* up to £200 million on vehicle excise duty or car tax.

Hard pressed motorists in Northern Ireland already pay higher petrol, oil, gas and electrial prices than their neighbours in England, Wales and Scotland.