Petrol stations were today set for fresh shortage fears as day two dawned in the fuel strike.

After a reasonably quiet Friday, Kent forecourts were expecting a run on the pumps for the weekend.

When quizzed yesterday, petrol station workers had different reactions.

The manager of Shell Lychgate service station on the Thanet Way thought they would only have petrol for the next two days.

He said : "After that we're going to open but only the shop, no fuel."

But at Richmond Service Station in Herne Bay, manager Craig Ellis, said: "We're doing fine. We had a tanker in yesterday (thursday) evening and we've got another one on Sunday which I expect no problems in receiving, so we've got lots of fuel.

"There's no need to panic buy at all."

The tanker drivers' four-day strike over pay began at 6am yesterday, and is expected to continue for four days.

The industrial action affects around 600 drivers working for two companies with contracts to deliver petrol to Shell forecourts.

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Most service stations reported an increase in sales as the strike kicked in, with some blaming the drivers for any shortages.

At Ashwal Garage in Cranbrook, which sells Shell fuel, manager Tony Pritchard said: "During the last two days we have sold 15 to 30 per cent more fuel than usual.

"People are being stupid. If they had carried on with their usual buying patterns of £10 or £15 a week rather than £30 there would not be a problem."

With one in 10 petrol stations in the UK run by Shell, union chiefs were predicting shortages.

Despite Government pleas for motorists not to panic buy fuel, petrol stations around the county are already reporting increased business and shortages.