Petrol supply: Army put on standby to ease fuel crisis

[superadmin]

The Army is ready to help ease fuel supply problems after a fourth day of long queues and pump closures.

Up to 150 military tanker drivers will prepare to deliver to forecourts which have run dry because of panic buying.

The surge in demand came amid fears a driver shortage would hit fuel supply - which is plentiful at refineries.

The transport secretary said there were "tentative signs" of stabilisation in petrol stations and queues would start to reflect this in the coming days.

Grant Shapps said: "Once we all return to our normal buying habits... the quicker we get back to normality."

Meanwhile, the Petrol Retailers Association said there was some evidence that the number of motorists visiting petrol stations was slowly beginning to calm.


- More -