Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news, as the UK government says people should buy petrol normally after days of panic buying.
- Latest: Fuel suppliers predicts normal demand ‘in coming days’
- RAC: Petrol prices rose over weekend…and more motorists ran out
- Public should buy petrol as normal, says environment secretary
- Eustice: Some with a ‘tendency to be anxious’ will have filled up
- ‘No plans at the moment’ to use army to drive fuel tankers
- London mayor: reserve some petrol stations for key workers
Earlier:
- Union: EU workers won’t help UK out of mess
- Industry hopes petrol situation will improve by end of the week
- Competition law suspended to help fuel firms work together
- Boris Johnson to consider using army to supply petrol stations
Demand hasn’t returned to normal yet, though, with many reports of delays and congestion this afternoon caused by petrol station queues:
#A23 long delays through #Fiveways Corner in #Croydon with the queues towards petrol stations between the #Lombard Roundabout and #Purley Way playing fields pic.twitter.com/pg0HgD0kDj
There have been delays all day heading east out of London on the #A13 towards the petrol station after Gascoigne Way – queues from the #Canning Town Flyover and on the #A406 from before the #Barking Flyover pic.twitter.com/47M2uZBQkF
A2 New Cross Road (SE14) (All Directions) at the junction of Jerningham Road – There is heavy congestion due to people trying to get to petrol stations. Expect delays #LondonTraffic https://t.co/R9l5uN4Cie pic.twitter.com/p66ZNu5Kku
⚠️635 information⚠️
Due to the traffic delays caused by cars queueing at petrol stations, with immediate effect this service will terminate and commence from Watford Junction Railway Station. We apologise for any inconvenience. pic.twitter.com/wdnFsF13mT
Looks like they had a delivery. Screwed up the traffic in three directions pic.twitter.com/C8Pppv2U2M
UK fuel suppliers say they expect demand to return ‘in the coming days’, after the spate of panic buying left many stations low on petrol and diesel, or dry.
In a joint statement, the group of leading fuel companies, including Shell, BP and Esso, say that the pressures on forecourts should ease, now that more cars than usual have been filled up.
There is plenty of fuel at UK refineries and terminals, and as an industry we are working closely with the government to help ensure fuel is available to be delivered to stations across the country.
“As many cars are now holding more fuel than usual, we expect that demand will return to its normal levels in the coming days, easing pressures on fuel station forecourts.
NEW: Fuel industry joint statement
“There is plenty of fuel at UK refineries and terminals, and as an industry we are working closely with the government to help ensure fuel is available to be delivered to stations across the country.
1/3 pic.twitter.com/q01SsaPjEb
Large fuel providers reiterate that ‘there is plenty of fuel at UK refineries and terminals’ and ‘encourage everyone to buy fuel as they usually would’, in a joint statement read by @eddiemair pic.twitter.com/YBFGMZ3fgL
