Fuel rations on the way?

Panic bulk-buying of fuel could spark rationing for motorists, experts have warned.

The alert has come after last week’s four-day strike by tanker drivers, which saw queues as people stocked up on petrol.

Ray Holloway, president of the Petrol Retailers Association, said: “There’s a risk forecourts will be forced to limit drivers to as little as 15 litres of fuel so there’s enough to go around.”

The strike, caused by a pay dispute between the haulage companies and drivers, affected only Shell garages. But Holloway insisted there’s no need to panic buy for strikes of this sort. “There’s plenty of fuel as long as everybody buys normally. It only affected Shell forecourts, and they only account for one in 10 stations in the country.”