Fuel running out at pumps
Petrol stations in Shropshire today began running out of fuel as hundreds of Shell tanker drivers took to the roads on a second day of strike action. Petrol stations in Shropshire today began running out of fuel as hundreds of Shell tanker drivers took to the roads on a second day of strike action. A Shell garage in Telford has become one of the first in the county to be severely hit - running out of diesel late last night - and staff claimed it was only a matter of time before the pumps were completely dry. Other petrol stations across the county spoke of "madness" at the forecourts and said they were only coping because of extra fuel supplies. Read the full story in today's Shropshire Star.
Petrol stations in Shropshire today began running out of fuel as hundreds of Shell tanker drivers took to the roads on a second day of strike action.
A Shell garage in Telford has become one of the first in the county to be severely hit - running out of diesel late last night - and staff claimed it was only a matter of time before the pumps were completely dry.
Other petrol stations across the county spoke of "madness" at the forecourts and said they were only coping because of extra fuel supplies.
Members of the Unite union employed by two companies on Shell contracts walked out at 6am yesterday at the start of a four-day strike over pay.
Disgruntled lorry drivers were poised to cause gridlock on the M6 today in a series of go-slow fuel protests. Union leaders have warned the walk-out will have a worsening effect on supplies over the weekend.
A spokeswoman for Shell in Stirchley, Telford, said: "We ran out of normal diesel late last night but we have still got unleaded and vito diesel at the moment. I think we will be gone by Monday."
Feared
Sarah Cope, supervisor at Shell in Sutton Maddock, Telford, said panic buyers had forced them to run out of fuel earlier than expected and feared the pumps would be left dry by 2.30pm today.
She said: "We will have probably run out by about 2.30pm today. We don't know when we will get our next delivery yet but we think it will be Tuesday."
Kaz Khan, spokesman for Tong Service Station, said he ran out of unleaded petrol after a "very busy day" yesterday when the forecourt was swamped with panic buyers.
Mr Khan said: "I've just had a phone call to say the delivery won't be coming until Monday now because of all the backlash from the strikes."
Simon Allen, of the BP station in Meole Brace, Shrewsbury, said: "It's madness because everybody is just filling up their cars."
But despite fears of empty forecourts, some stations said they were coping well.
Tracey Young, at the Victoria Garage in Whitchurch, said: "People have not been panic buying."
By Russell Roberts
