Motorists still facing long queues for petrol

Motorists are today still facing long queues at the pumps as the long haul to restock the country's petrol stations gathers pace today.

Motorists are today still facing long queues at the pumps as the long haul to restock the country's petrol stations gathers pace today.

More than half of major oil companies' outlets had been stocked by the start of today after increasing deliveries to cope with the fuel crisis.

But many motorists have been staying at home to conserve fuel, according to the RAC Foundation, the motoring organisation's campaigning wing.

It reported that weekend traffic was down 50 per cent as drivers conserved fuel for work use.

An Esso spokesman said just over 850 of their 1,500 outlets had been stocked and tankers were making more than 700 deliveries on average every 24 hours.

Shell said it expects to make nearly 700 deliveries today and 487 of its 1,100 forecourts were selling petrol.

And Texaco said half of its 1,500 forecourts were open and 373 tankers would be heading out to outlets today.

BP said it would be making 719 deliveries and a spokesman said more than 900 of its 1,500 garages were serving drivers.

Jet had 316 or 58% of its 547 filling stations open this morning and said it aimed to have 70% of its garages refuelled by tonight.

A company spokesman said 391 deliveries would be made today.