Excessive fuel use?

[SK193]

Over the last few days i've noticed my car's been using more fuel than it used to, and today I did a 20 mile drive and it must have used almost twice the fuel it used to :/ There's also a grinding kinda noise as i'm driving which i've always blamed on tyre roar, but could it be the brakes binding or something? As this might also be the reason for the fuel use too..

What could I do to sort out the mpg issue? Would changing the fuel filter be worth doing, as this wasn't changed during it's last service about 2000 miles ago and i'm not sure whether it's ever been changed?

Any help would be much appreciated

 

[micra 2000]

go for a good run and when you come back touch each of your wheels if a brake is binding you will know which it is as the wheel will be red hot due to friction

 

[SK193]

Thanks, i'll try this tomorrow and see if i can get a fuel filter from somewhere too