People flock to get fuel from the underground storage

Police have thrown a cordon around Richborough after a huge secret stash of fuel was discovered lying beneath the demolished power station.

Desperate drivers have been flocking to the site where the chimneys were demolished earlier this month amid rumours there are millions of litres of petrol stored within a secure underground tanker area.

The previously-unknown fortified room - measuring 70ft by 50ft - was used to store emergency fuel to power the station during extreme situations such as conflict or strikes.

However, as news of the 'free' fuel spread, drivers desperate to get their hands on the petrol amid forecourt closures and price hikes have flocked to the site near Sandwich.

Armed with jerry cans and pipes to siphon off the fuel, people have been seen climbing into the underground chamber to take the much-needed bounty.

But police have warned against risking life and limb to get to the flammable material.

Det

Above ground at the site

Insp Al Foorpoil said: "This is no joke! It's bad enough that people are causing shortages at stations with unnecessary queues - now this is just adding fuel to the fire.

"We need people to keep calm and not be so crude as to steal this fuel."

The store was discovered when demolition experts DDS exploded the towers on March 11.

It was saved from the demolition by its 3ft thick concrete lining, but a spokesman said the petrol - some three million litres of it - was lucky not to have sparked an explosion which would have blown a hole into the landscape for several miles.

Making the most of the secret fuel stash was Gerry Khan, of Loof Road, Minster, who had siphoned off 30 litres of the valuable liquid.

He said: "I know I shouldn't be doing this but I'm no fool - why queue up for hours for petrol that costs £1.48 per litre when I can get it here for free?"

But drivers are warned against heading over to the site - stores are likely to run out by midday.

More later...