BP urged to resort to its former name

EMBATTLED oil giant BP is reportedly facing pressure to rename its US petrol stations under their old Amoco brand as the backlash in America shows no sign of easing.

The distributors who control most of BP's US forecourts are pushing the group to revert back to the traditional American Amoco branding for fear of further sales pain following the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, according to reports at the weekend.

BP shed the Amoco brand shortly after merging with the US oil group in 1998, but the 475 distributors believe its revival across petrol stations could help bring customers back.

They are reportedly seeing sales fall by up to 40 per cent in the worst hit sites as Americans shun the BP brand.

John Kleine, executive director of the BP Amoco Marketers Association, which represents US distributors said: "They (the distributors] are interested in where the brand is going and want it to be returned to its premier place."