Panic at the pumps as Southport motorists rush to buy fuel

Petrol pumps across Southport are working overtime as thousands of panicked drivers stock up.

Panic buying petrol is in full effect across Southport with dozens of petrol stations filled to the brim with cars.

At Tesco In Kew vehicles are snaking back for hundreds of yards as desperate drivers try to fill up on fuel.

Elsewhere staff at BP and Shell stations in Meols Cop have been run ragged this morning with hundreds of motorists stocking up.

It comes as BP said they would have to close some of their petrol stations across the UK which bosses say is down to a national shortage of fuel lorries.

Despite these fears, people should carry on buying petrol as normal, despite supply problems that have closed some stations, the government has said.

The AA added that most of the UK’s forecourts were working as they should.

“There is no shortage of fuel and thousands of forecourts are operating normally with just a few suffering temporary supply chain problems,” said AA president Edmund King.

“Fridays and the weekend always tend to be busier on forecourts, as drivers either combine filling up with shopping runs, prepare for weekend trips or refuel for the start of the new working week.”