Fuel runs dry at the pumps

Long queues built up at filling stations in the town and at Rustington and Crossbush, and a number of pumps ran dry on Tuesday, until fresh supplies were brought in by tankers.

The queues were back again yesterday (Wednesday), but by early afternoon it appeared that the fuel protests outside refineries were drawing little support, and the panic-buying had been the only cause of any shortage.

The Snax 24 BP filling station ran out of fuel on Tuesday night and was not expecting another delivery until this morning.

Manager Michael Price said: "We have been very seriously affected. The demand has been phenomenal.

"It's just panic-buying, and there is no reason for it. There has been no confirmation of any depots being blocked.

"By the time the fuel arrives, we will have been empty for 36 hours, and we are worried that it will all go again in no time."

The BP garage at Worthing Road, Rustington, also sold out on Tuesday, but had another delivery that afternoon. Yesterday, staff there again reported very heavy demand from motorists.

Shell's Eastfield station, at Worthing Road, Littlehampton, ran out of fuel completely at midday yesterday, and staff could not say when the next delivery was expected.

There were also long queues at Tesco, Littlehampton, and Cuff Miller, Horsham Road, Littlehampton.

The situation has been made worse in this area by the closure of three filling stations in the past two years, two Texaco sites at Angmering and Arundel, and the Total forecourt at Horsham Road, Littlehampton, now Yeomans Honda.