Panic at the pumps (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Panic at the pumps

THE first signs of panic buying emerged in Swindon today as motorists fear a petrol shortage could be on its way.

Drivers worried about petrol shortages were this morning queuing at garages across the town to fill up their tanks and jerry cans.

Some petrol stations said they had run out of unleaded and diesel over the weekend as people stocked up.

Many said they had been experiencing a marked increase in demand.

The Asda-Walmart filling station in North Swindon was forced to close early on Friday and Saturday after its tanks ran dry.

Manager David Evans said: "We have experienced quite heavy demand over the weekend. People were not just putting £5 or £10 into their cars, they were filling their tanks to ensure they had enough."

Customers at the filling station at Sainsbury's in Stratton experienced queues this morning as they filled up on their way into Swindon.

One employee said: "It's been extremely busy, at times every pump has been full and there have been queues of 10 cars outside waiting. We have also seen one or two jerry cans."

But Paul Foley, at the South Marston Service Station, said business had been constant but not at panic buying proportions.

He said: "It hasn't been too bad here, I don't think people are panic buying just yet, it is not as bad as a few years ago but who knows what's going to happen over the next few days."

Refinery blockades are due to happen this week and protesters are also planning a motorway go-slow for the M4.

The lobby has been sparked by the price of petrol, which has reached £1 a litre after rising more than 20 per cent in recent months.

And it looks set to go higher due to the continued disruption to the US oil industry caused by Hurricane Katrina.

Anxiety sweeps country

ACROSS the country drivers in Yorkshire, the North East and parts of London have reported queues forming on forecourts.

The prospect of refinery blockades later this week and spiralling prices are behind the panic, with some areas reporting hour-long queues at filling stations.

The Fuel Lobby is planning protests about the price of fuel, and is calling on the public to "attend" oil refineries from 6am on Wednesday.

"We are not calling for a blockade, but if oil companies decide they cannot send out lorries while there is a public presence at their site, then that is a matter for them," said a spokesman.

A motorway go-slow is planned for the M4 in Wales, organised by the Welsh Less Tax On Fuel Group, which comprises members of the public, coach operators, hauliers and farmers.

Spokesman Alan Greene said: "We just can't keep going. If this keeps on we may as well put a match to all our vehicles."

Campaigners also revealed that even the port of Dover could be targeted.

Anthony Osborne