Motorists go petrol-crazy

Despite repeated statements nationally that this time Wednesday's protests against high fuel tax at a time of rising prices would not involve blockading refineries, queues of motorists swiftly emptied the town's fuel tanks on Tuesday.

Petrol stations reported selling up to four times their daily average.

The forecourt at Glyne Gap Esso was deserted on Wednesday morning, as motorists desperately searched elsewhere.

Esso's Shashi Madapatha said: "We are completely out of petrol with no deliveries expected today - there might be a delivery come in tomorrow. We have had no petrol since 2.00 yesterday afternoon."

The BP station on Ninfield Road displayed a sign saying Sorry - No Diesel. They were unable to comment, but the queue at 7pm on Tuesday evening stretched from the forecourt around London Road and Holliers Hill.

Meanwhile Smith and Humphrey in Sidley were doing brisk business - with the cost of unleaded 99.9, diesel 99.9 and 4 star 99.5.

Ian Sayers said: "We are getting a bit low on diesel. People are buying more than usual. As far as I can make out, I don't think there is actually a shortage It is just people are buying more because they believe there is going to be a shortage."

By 10am on Tuesday the Murco station in Town Hall Square (unleaded 96.9p, diesel 97.9p) had run out of both.

Manager Prabodhe Fernando said: "We ran out this morning - now. I hope they will deliver to me soon. I am not sure when but they say they will try to deliver to every garage.

"We normally get a delivery every three days.

"From yesterday it started to get a little bit busier and then this morning after it was on the news last night."

The filling station has tankage for 30,000 litres of unleaded petrol and 14,000 litres of diesel.

Some of the angriest scenes were at Birchwood Ford's Esso station in Terminus Road (unleaded 97.9p, diesel 98.9p). With the forecourt closed the filling station shop was open but deserted on Wednesday morning.

Staff were waiting for a fuel delivery.

Manager Cherry Hamilton said: "We ran out last night.

"We sold 26,000 litres yesterday and 29,000 litres on Monday. We normally sell about 7,500 litres a day.

"It was just manic! We had to go outside and control them to the pumps.

"They do it every time. They were coming in and filling up - their cans as well We had to go out and check people's fuel guages. A lot of them had nearly a full tank anyway. We refused to serve them and said 'No, we will sell it to people who are nearly empty or have the warning light on.'

"That's when we got the hassle!

"It's ridiculous. There IS no shortage. It's just panic-buying. We normally have two or three deliveries a week. We are expecting one this morning."

East Sussex Fire Authority this week issued a warning about the dangers of drivers storing fuel.

Senior Fire Safety Officer Adrian Brown said: "At present there is no reason to believe that there will be any petrol shortage and our advice to members of the public is not to store any additional supplies.

"However, for those people that do, please remember, petrol is classed as HIGHLY FLAMMABLE and produces explosive vapour at room temperature '“ Treat it with care!"

"The storage of petrol is highly regulated by law. This is because any leak of petrol can lead to an explosion or serious fire, particularly when a leak occurs within a building.

"To avoid the primary causes of leaks, it is illegal for petrol stations to allow customers to fill any container which has not been designed and constructed for the purpose, and which does not display the approved wording and warning symbols."