BREAKING NEWS: Panic at the pumps

Cars at the Morrisons petrol station in Clarence Road, Hartlepool

Published on 29/03/2012 14:59

TOWN petrol pumps remanined packed out throughout today as residents rushed to fill up their tanks.

Large queues formed from 8am at Morrisons, Tesco and Asda petrol stations, in Hartlepool, as fears grew of a strike by fuel tanker drivers.

The situation continued through the day despite Government officials trying to allay fear that fuel supplies will run dry.

It came to a head after a minister advised motorists to fill up their tanks when they become half-empty.

Cars queued out on to the main roads at petrol stations in town as people rushed to fill up with fuel.

Jeff Green, 62, a retired property services manager who lives in Hartfields Retirement Village, was in the queue at Morrisons petrol station, off Clarence Road, in the town.

He said: “It’s mad.

“There’s no need for it, but the Government haven’t helped themselves at all.”

Government ministers came under fire after Cabinet Minister Francis Maude advised drivers to store petrol in a jerrycan in case of strikes, a comment which was later withdrawn as a mistake.

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BREAKING NEWS: Panic at the pumps

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