A Herne Bay petrol station accused of ripping off motorists is NOT selling its customers short on fuel, a not-too-scientific KentOnline investigation has found.

The Esso garage in Kings Road has come in for widespread criticism on Facebook, with drivers claiming they have been shortchanged at the pumps.

So our intrepid reporters popped to the garage to establish if there was any truth in the online speculation – much of it on the Herne Bay Chatter Facebook group.

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After filling up two jerry cans with 11.03 litres of unleaded, they returned to the labs at KentOnline HQ (the car park) armed with a bucket, a funnel and a measuring jug.

The jug was filled to the 1.5-litre mark seven times and poured into the bucket - making 10.5 litres - with the final dregs from the jerry can filling the jug to just short of 500ml.

So the total – about 10.99 litres – was a splash short of the 11.03 litres paid for – about right when taking into account any spillage.

VIDEO: KentOnline investigates claims a petrol station is ripping off motorists

But unemployed Beltinge resident Craig Barclay, who was the first to post his concerns on Herne Bay Chatter, remains unconvinced.

He said: “Over the last six or seven months the fuel I have got from that garage has not lasted as long as it should have.

“The amount of comments online have just been unreal and people are saying they are not getting enough miles.

“I put £5 in the tank and the needle didn’t even move, so I drove two miles and put another £5 at the same petrol station and different pump, but the needle still didn’t move.”

Others raised concerns on Facebook, with Susan Timcke claiming she usually gets 135 miles for £20, but just 84 miles at Kings Road.

But Bob Pev jumped to the defence of the garage, posting: “I fill my car up at both of the petrol stations in town regularly.

"We are giving fair measure and there is no reason at all why anybody should not be using that station..." - David Hathaway

“It takes between £65 and £75 to fill my car depending on how much is left in it. I think I’d notice if their pumps were on the fiddle.”

Nigel Hancock added: “All this speculation! Two things 1) Car fuel gauges are notoriously inaccurate and 2) If you have any concerns around the amount of fuel being delivered, report it to Kent Trading Standards. Simple as that.”

Mr Barclay, who regularly fills up his partner’s Peugeot 207 at the station, says he saw testers checking the forecourt’s pumps last week.

But David Hathaway, a spokesman for garage owners Malthurst, says the examinations were not connected to the claims on Facebook.

“Fairbanks environmental services were there on Thursday but it was completely unconnected with the issue people are talking about,” he said.

“The company has a contract with us on a national basis to do annual surveys of the fuel dispensing equipment.

“It is an annual MOT for the fuel dispensers and, by complete coincidence, the scheduled visit was on Thursday last week.

“I have no doubt people will say that is garbage but that is true and every pump was found to be legally compliant.”

Mr Hathaway says customers should report any concerns to Trading Standards.

“Fairbanks did not reset any of the pumps because the pumps work,” he added.

“There is nothing wrong with them – they are dispensing legally compliant measures of fuel.

“If people want to take their business elsewhere, we can’t stop them doing it.

“But we are giving fair measure and there is no reason at all why anybody should not be using that station.”