YORK has one of the fastest rush-hour rates in the country, according to a survey.

The fastest peak-period speed for motorists was in Peterborough, with an average speed of 19.25mph, followed by York at 17.64mph.

Cars crawl through central London at the slowest rush-hour rate at just 10.06mph in Westminster, analysis by Direct Line Drive Plus found.

Overall, the typical rush-hour slows traffic speeds in urban centres by an average of 3.6mph.

Although not recording the lowest average rush-hour speed, Canterbury took the unwanted accolade of the city most affected by peak-period traffic, with the rush hour adding almost 10 minutes to a normal 30-minute journey.

The next most-affected cities were St Albans in Hertfordshire where rush-hour drivers were likely to be delayed for 8.9 minutes and Worcester (8.6 minutes).

After Westminster, the slowest rush-hour speeds were to be found in Lancaster (10.88mph), Cambridge (11.30 mph) and Hereford (11.49mph). Among the quicker-moving rush-hour locations were Coventry, Chelmsford in Essex, Swansea, Stoke-on-Trent and Dundee.

Thursdays, rather than Mondays or Fridays, appeared to be the worst day for rush-hour congestion.