Fuel stations across Britain are set to branch out from selling sandwiches and flowers to providing a wide range of consumer services, including internet access and banking.

Garage forecourts are to have a major facelift during the next 12 months to provide increasingly busy consumers with a range of services on a 24-hour basis, the study by market analysts Datamonitor said.

Dry-cleaning services, photograph developing, video libraries, internet cafes and food stores will become widespread.

The overhaul will be so radical that only a small percentage of drivers visiting garages will actually be stopping for fuel, the Maximising Shop Performance On The UK Forecourt report predicted.

Datamonitor analyst Dr Shon Loth said: "The look and feel of UK petrol stations is changing for good.

"Motorists will soon use their local service station to access a whole cluster of convenience goods and services, all geared towards taking some of the stress out of their busy lifestyles.

"Before long, buying petrol for their cars will be no more than an add-on service."

The trend of working longer hours means consumers are increasingly demanding convenient shopping and Datamonitor predicts garages will be quick to cash in.

Changes have already started, with many oil companies allowing supermarket chains and fast food restaurants to build on their forecourts.

The largest boom area will be in food with £5.5 billion worth being sold in garages this year.

Currently there are 4,000 garages open on a 24-hour basis in the UK and that number is set to increase dramatically in the next year, the report said.