by Stephen Waite and Lewis Dyson

Drivers have been going to extraordinary late-night lengths to fill-up with fuel.

Queues formed at the Key Street Esso in Sittingbourne in the early hours of today (Friday).

Judy Taylor, site manager, said it was "bizarre" to see a queue following a midnight tanker delivery.

"To be that busy overnight was mental," she said.

"We had phone call after phone call from people asking when the next delivery would be."

Mrs Taylor said takings had been triple what they would usually be.

Earlier, she had been forced to marshal drivers on the forecourt and limit the number of cans that customers could fill.

She advised: "Don't panic. People need to know that if a strike happens it's not going to be until at least after Easter. So don't make unnecessary journeys and be sensible.

"People are creating a problem where there shouldn't be a problem."

Subash NaroShana, who runs the BP petrol station in St Paul's Road, Milton, said he anticipated shutting this afternoon. "We will have to close so we can keep some back for the emergency services," he said.

The Gulf petrol station in Sheerness reported 10 days’ worth of petrol being sold in one day.

Today, the High Street filling stop was selling only diesel to emergency vehicles and taxis as reserves of the fuel fell dangerously low.

It had 3,000 litres left and was limiting customers to 10 litres each.

Manager Erney Fernando said: "The delivery is supposed to be on Sunday morning. People are just panicking and they are spilling the petrol.

"That is why we are going to run out. Normally we are keeping [the stock] for 10 days but it has gone in one day."

It has kept the price at 138.9p per litre.

Tesco's petrol station, on Bridge Road, Sheerness, has kept all of its pumps open and prices stay at 138.9p per litre.

An employee said they expect to have another tanker delivery on Sunday.

Julian Fletcher, 47, of St George’s Avenue, Sheerness, went to Tesco at about 8am today to go shopping.

He said cars were queuing right out into the road even then and the situation has got worse as the morning has gone on.

"I’m trying to avoid using my car for obvious reasons," he added.

"I spoke to the trade manager at Tesco and he said they have put a cap on people using fuel cans but are not going to put a cap on people buying it as there isn’t a supply issue.

"The government has caused this panic."