HITCHIN: A major fuel provider has reacted after long queues formed at petrol stations in and around Hitchin and further afield.

Drivers are being urged not to 'panic buy' petrol or diesel with the government and national motoring organisation AA insisting there is not a fuel shortage.

Yet motorists opted to fill their cars in higher than usual numbers before the weekend.

Nub News visited the busy Shell garage on Bedford Road on Friday and witnessed a long queue of cars and vans waiting to fill up. While forecourt pumps were operating, many were out of supplies.

A Shell spokesperson told Hitchin Nub News: "We have been seeing an increased demand for fuel at some of our stations, which may in some instances result in larger queues.

"We are adapting our delivery schedules to ensure sufficient supplies for our customers."

Petrol has climbed to 135.9p a litre, a price not reached for eight years, according to national motoring organisation, AA.

Which means drivers will have to pay at least 15p more than they did before the pandemic struck. Based on a motorist filling up their tank twice, adds up to an extra £16.50 a month on fuel.

Hitchin MP Bim Afolami urged calm and called for motorists to avoid panic buying amid petrol station queues in our area.

While south of Hitchin, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps ducked a pre-planned petrol station event because of long queues at the forecourt

BP and Esso have shut a number of petrol stations due to a lack of tanker drivers, while EG Group has said it will introduce a limit of £30 per customer on all grades of fuel in a bid to prevent panic buying.

A Downing Street spokesperson said: "We have ample fuel stocks in this country and the public should be reassured there are no shortages.

"But like countries around the world we are suffering from a temporary Covid-related shortage of drivers needed to move supplies around the country."