SHOPPERS in Worces-tershire have been paying increased prices for their food this summer, according to a report by the British Retail Consortium (BRC).

The organisation has revealed that food prices in July went up for the third month running.

The BRC shop price index for July showed that prices were 0.69 per cent higher than in July last year.

But a BRC spokesman said there was no way of saying if prices would continue to rise or fall as what happened would depend on factors such as world supplies and the cost of commodities, for instance coffee.

"Retailers are facing an increase in their costs such as energy costs, the fuel they use to transport food around the country as well as increases in rent and rates and wages,'' he said

"Over the past year, retailers have been holding prices down against rising costs, but at some point had to pass costs on to the customers."

A spokeswoman for Sainsbury's, which has two supermarkets in Worcester - one in Blackpole, the other in Cathedral Plaza in the city centre - said: ''We continue to invest in lower prices and our recent sales performance reflects the restored confidence that customers now have in our ability to deliver great products and at fair prices."