several months.

Motorists will now pay $1.27.8 a litre, topping the most recent high in June when the price was $1.27.7 a litre.

The Minister of Finance announced the 4.7 cents a litre increase in gasoline on Friday, taking the price to $5.80.97 per gallon of fuel.

Diesel also rose in price, up 5.4 cents a litre to $1.05.4 and kerosene went up by the same amount to 85.1 cents.

The increases came as motorists around the world protested against rising fuel prices, blockading refineries and bringing many roads to a standstill, particularly in Europe.

But prices in the US and Europe are still way below Bermuda. In the UK, petrol costs around $4.31 a gallon, with around three-quarters of that collected in tax.

In America, gas costs between $1.60 and $2 a gallon, depending on the state.

UK diesel is sold at an average of $4.33 a gallon.

AIRLINE FLIGHTS TO US GOING CHEAP FLY Airline flights to US going cheap A post-summer seat sale to the US has been announced, with bargains for destinations as far afield as Hawaii and California.

American Airlines has prices starting at $223 for a mid-week fare from Bermuda to Boston or Baltimore, and rise to $892 for a weekend seat to Honolulu.

The sale, which runs until December 14, also includes prices to Chicago (from $424), Las Vegas (from 522), New York (from $244) and Los Angeles starting at $522.

Other airlines, including Delta and Continental, are also offering cheap fares to the US.

Taxes and fees are additional, the minimum length of stay is three days and the last date of purchase is September 29.

MAN ARRESTED FOLLOWING SEARCH CRM Man arrested following search A 26-year-old Pembroke man has been arrested after a Police raid on a Curving Court home netted suspected drugs.

Offices entered with a search warrant on Wednesday afternoon and found five bags of grey powder on the man while 18 bags of rocklike substance were found in another room.

The man was arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance and taken to Hamilton Police station where he was detained for further inquiry.

MUSICAL CHARITY IS MISSING NOTES CRM Musical charity is missing notes A sneak thief has stolen an envelope containing a "significant'' amount of cash and cheques from the Bermuda Conservatory of Music.

The money was snatched from the office in Trott Road, Pembroke, some time between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Wednesday when it was left briefly unattended.

Greg Smith, the manager of the charity, said: "As a charity it is always difficult (to lose money) but it won't affect our operations.''