Long queues build at Hucknall Bypass filling station as Hucknall Tesco runs dry amid panic buying

Long queues of motorists have formed in Hucknall near the Texaco Bypass petrol station as the panic buying of fuel continues.

The queues for petrol in the town have been exacerbated by the fact that Tesco Extra on Ashgate Road is currently out of fuel for the second time in three days.

A shortage of HGV drivers has caused issues with transporting fuel to forecourts and in reaction to this there has been mass panic buying up and down the country since late last week.

In Hucknall, both of the town's petrol stations ran out of fuel on Saturday (25 September) and were without until late afternoon on the Sunday when Tesco received a delivery.

Texaco received a delivery on Monday morning (27 September) and this morning (28 September), and they are still limiting each customer to a maximum of £30 worth of fuel.

This has led to mass queues stretching down the bypass and causing access issues to the roundabout and Watnall Road.

Lee Walters was one of the people in the queue. Speaking exclusively to Hucknall Nub News, he said: "I've been trying since Friday to get fuel in my van. I look after my Dad, he's got dementia and health conditions. His one pleasure is me taking him out for a drive which I've not been able to do and trying to explain to somebody with dementia I've got no fuel, it's been crippling, it's horrible.

"I'm hoping I can get some because I'm with him tonight and tomorrow, even if it's for half an hour it gets him out; he's a different man once he's in the van. I'm hoping I can get some just to take him for a drive out."

"I was supposed to be at work yesterday, I didn't have enough fuel because I knew I'd got to get up to my Dad's so I've had to conserve what I've got.

"I've got zero miles left, the fuel light is on and it keeps beeping at me. Even if I can just get £20 worth and then let things settle down, I'm not after filling the van up."

Another person in the queue who wished to remain anonymous said: "It's been a nightmare trying to get fuel. I've been driving all over trying to get fuel. I can't go out to call outs until I get some fuel."

He estimated that the work he'd had to turn down this week due to a lack of fuel had cost him "probably a couple of grand," which was "very frustrating."

At the petrol station, there were two members of staff in high visibility jackets marshalling customers into position to ensure as smooth a flow of traffic into the petrol station as possible.

It is unclear when Tesco will get their next delivery of fuel. However, a Tesco spokesperson said: "We have good availability of fuel, and we're working really hard to ensure regular deliveries to our petrol filling stations across the UK every day."