MOTORISTS are warned that fuel stations are busy and are urged only to fill up if needed.

Filling station forecourts are reportedly very busy this morning in Dorset as people are believed to be panic buying for fears that fuel will run out.

Tesco Extra on Castle Lane East, Bournemouth, is believed to be closed. 

Meanwhile, queues have been reported at the Co-op in Castle Lane West and also at the Co-op petrol station in Holdenhurst Road.

In Hampshire, queues are being reported at the Tesco in New Milton. 

This has come from a national shortage of lorry drivers - believed to be around 100,000 - which has caused the closure of a handful of BP stations and a small number of Esso-owned Tesco Alliance stations. The shortage has been made worse by the pandemic and Brexit.

The UK does not lack petrol and diesel, the issue comes from a difficulty in getting it to forecourts due to lack of drivers.

A spokesman for Travel Dorset said: "Filling station forecourts are much busier than normal this morning. There may be long delays in these areas.

"Please fuel as normal and only if necessary."

A spokesman for 10 Downing Street said there "was no shortage of fuel in the UK and people should continue to buy fuel as normal".