A GARDENER claims a petrol station is swindling motorists out of millions of pounds by selling short measures.

Richard Deakin, 57, said markings on his see-through jerry can showed he was half a litre short, despite the pump saying a full five litres had been dispensed.

When he complained, the cashier reduced the price and admitted the pump was not properly calibrated.

But Richard said he went on to use the Shell service station several more times — and has continued to be sold short.

He claims it has been going on for almost a year and videoed the last incident this week.

He said: “They immediately knocked £1.60 off. It was as though they knew what they were up to.

“I have used three different pumps and they have all been under, sometimes by half a litre.

“I’ve tried to take it up with Trading Standards and Customs and Excise, but they’re not interested despite the loss of tax revenue. The garage could be making millions from this. It’s a swizz.”

The garage in Henfield, West Sussex, which sells unleaded at 131.9p per litre, claimed it had received no complaints.