Garry Smith manager of Smith’s Service Station on the border at Ballyconnell has reported a 50/50 split between Northern and Southern customers.

“The price of fuel with the sterling and the euro would be working out a lot, lot cheaper than it is in the North. We’re getting an awful lot of cross-border trade which is a massive boost, because for a long time it was going the other way. When the value’s there people have no problem paying for the fuel.

“With the changeover over there with Quinns it is another fantastic boost to the area.”

Stephen O’Reilly, duty manager at Spa Service Station, Swanlinbar told the Herald diesel at the pumps last week was priced at 98p a litre, with petrol coming at 105 pence per litre, a significant difference to prices at Asda, traditionally one of  the cheapest sellers in Fermanagh.

 “The price has definitely helped business,” he remarked.

Another to notice an upturn is Terry Hughes of TJ Hughes Service Station on the Belleek/Ballyshannon border.

“There’s quite a few people who come from the Enniskillen direction and, Omagh direction to fill up on diesel so it’s good news for us. In general the border sites are definitely seeing a big upturn.”