Woman fears she'll be unable to see sick father due to fuel disruption

• Video report by ITV Meridian's Rachel Hepworth

There are continuing calls for drivers to buy fuel responsibly as filling stations struggle to keep up with increased demand.

Despite the Government insisting there was no fuel shortage on Sunday (26/09), there have been long queues at pumps across the south east, with motorists unwilling to risk running out.

Motorists in Winchester gathered at garages, which still had fuel available, to try and fill up their vehicles.

One resident in the city told ITV News that, without fuel, she wouldn't be able to visit her seriously ill father in hospital. 

Teresa Lanni said: "I just need petrol to go and see my very sick father, and I hope that people just bare in mind ambulances and police that need to put petrol in their car."

"I will do anything that I can to be with him, and if that means walking I will, but that is the ultimate option. My mother can't walk and she wants to see my father in hospital too, today or tomorrow."

• Teresa Lanni, Resident:

It comes as the Petrol Retailers Association has warned that around two thirds of its outlets are now out of fuel. Meanwhile, the government says it has no plans to use the Army to make deliveries to the forecourts. 

The British Medical Association has said that as stations run dry "there is a real risk that NHS staff won't be able to do their jobs."  Other workers have also been affected by the problems at the pumps.

Nearly 5,500 outlets were out of fuel on Sunday (27/09), according to the Petrol Retailers Association, with many more "partly dry and running out soon". The disruption is expected to last for a few days.

One petrol station in Cosham is only giving fuel to blue light workers, including ambulance, fire and police crews but not other essential workers.  

A garage owner in Lewes in Sussex is urging the public to be considerate, after his staff suffered abuse from drivers queuing for fuel. 

Paul Salvidge, petrol station owner said: "When our tanker drivers arrive to deliver the fuel, it has been very hard for them to get onto the forecourt. We've been trying to close the forecourt, five to 10 minutes early to make room for the tanker arriving but with the frustration and sometimes anger, it has been very difficult for the staff to do so."

• Paul Salvidge, Petrol station owner:

Meanwhile, a taxi driver in Winchester is frustrated at the long queues of people waiting to get petrol.

Although Colin Rees has been able to fill up, he says the chaos is the last thing his business needs, as it's just recovering from the pandemic.

He said: "No fuel, no work, that's how it works with us because we're all self-employed. I'm managing to beat the rush, as it's about having friends in the right places, to know when the deliveries are coming in and where you can get fuel.

"I won't panic buy. If I haven't got the fuel, I won't go to work and that's the end of it."

• Colin Rees, Taxi driver:

Dorset Police has issued a statement, alongside the county council and Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, calling for the public to "behave sensibly and not panic buy".

Superintendent Dean O’Connor, of Dorset Police, said: "Like many other parts of the country, Dorset is experiencing a delay in delivery of fuel to forecourts, but there is no suggestion that there is a fuel shortage."We have received multiple reports today of roads being blocked as a result of people queuing to buy petrol and diesel. I would strongly urge people to not panic buy as it is only compounding the situation."

Cllr Ray Bryan, Dorset Council Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment, said: "There is currently no fuel shortage in Dorset. I would urge all motorists to not panic buy fuel; only buy what you need when you need it and to be considerate of others."

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service Area Manager Seth Why said: "There is no fuel issue in Dorset, and you will not see a delay in receiving an emergency response from Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue. We would urge the public to remain calm, not stockpile fuel and be considerate of others when using fuel stations."