MANY petrol stations across Dorset ran out of fuel following two days of mass panic buying for petrol and diesel.

Queues of cars and vans idled outside of petrol stations in Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch and the rest of the county as the lack of HGV drivers has caused a hold-up in fuel deliveries over the past few days.

Tailbacks caused junction to gridlock, causing it to have an effect on traders next to petrol stations.

The Esso Westview petrol station on Charminster Road is said to have sold over 70,000 litres of fuel – equivalent to four days’ worth of combustibles – on Friday September 24.

Bournemouth Echo: Petrol stations across Bournemouth and Poole were forced to close after running out of fuel, whilst other had long queues of cars waiting to refuel on Saturday September 25

An employee at the garage next door to the petrol station said: “They said they will be getting their delivery as normal on Sunday night. I am glad that they don’t have it today; Friday was just crazy

“I sold one tyre all day because the queues were blocking anyone from coming in. My business was completely gone.

“On Saturday they said they would close which was a relief. They had queued the other side of the traffic lights. It was ridiculous around here.”

Cars were even seen occupying cycle lanes and they waited to turn into the petrol station forecourts.

Bournemouth Echo: Petrol stations across Bournemouth and Poole were forced to close after running out of fuel, whilst other had long queues of cars waiting to refuel on Saturday September 25

As a result of the mad rush on Friday September 24 and the monring of Saturday Septemebr 25, one by one, the petrol stations across the area closed, which in turn compounded the situation at fuelling stations still open and with fuel.

For key worker and frontline staff, the situation was too much to bear.

Tricia Kingsland said: “It's so ridiculous and frustrating. I'm a carer, making essential journeys to poorly people.

“I've been caught in several lines of traffic that I can't overtake, most of them waiting with their engines running.

“What selfish fools.”

In order help address the shortfall of around 90,000 drivers, which has hit the supply of food, petrol and other goods, the government has said it is to speed up the process of obtaining HGV driver licences.

Bournemouth Echo: Petrol stations across Bournemouth and Poole were forced to close after running out of fuel, whilst other had long queues of cars waiting to refuel on Saturday September 25

Following the pandemonium on Friday, MP for Bournemouth East Tobias Ellwood called for a £30 cap on fuel sales “so panic buying is controlled” and to “mobilise the army” in order to gets HGVs moving.

On Sunday, transport minister Grant Shapps reiterated that there is "no shortage of fuel" in the UK and people should be "sensible" and fill up only when they need to.

Speaking to Sky News’ Trevor Phillips On Sunday programme, Mr Shapps said: “We need to ensure that people are reassured now that this rather manufactured situation has been created, because there’s enough petrol in the country.”