Drivers are being urged not to 'panic buy' petrol or diesel as long queues have started forming outside petrol stations in Hitchin.

Despite the government and national motoring organisation AA insisting there is not a fuel shortage, motorists have decided to fill their cars in higher than usual numbers on Friday morning.

Nub News visited the busy Shell garage on Bedford Road to see a long queue of cars and vans waiting to fill up.

While forecourt pumps were operating, many were out of supplies. [See carousel picture at the top of this story]

A delivery van driver who gave his name as John that Nub News spoke to this morning said he had seen a number of petrol stations in and around Hitchin that had long queues.

Apart from the Shell station, this included the Esso garage on Nightingale Road and the BP garage on the Stevenage Road.

He added: "Apart from being annoying, it's not a good look when you have long queues outside [petrol stations].

"I still recall the panic in 2000. [ a reference to garages running out of fuel due to a blockage by truckers and farmers protesting over the high price of fuel.]

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When asked if he thought people should try and stop panic buying as it appeared to be contributing to the shortages, he replied: "It's not a crime to fill up my van. Yet."

While Downing Street has claimed there is no fuel shortage, the news of long queues forming will add pressure on the government, already facing supply chain issues with food amid labour shortages linked to Brexit and the Covid pandemic.

Hitchin MP Bim Afolami has been contacted for comment by Nub News, along with the Shell press office.

A government spokesperson said: "There is no shortage of fuel in the UK, and people should continue to buy fuel as normal."

More to follow...