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Hundreds of motorists queue in Harrow overnight for petrol as fuel supply issue continues

Hundreds of people have been queuing overnight to fill their tanks with petrol as the fuel supply issue continues in Harrow.

Multiple people have posted images and footage showing long queues as desperate motorists line up to get petrol in North Harrow and Harrow Town Centre.

Thoughts are now turning towards the week ahead and how this will impact the working week with queues predicted to get worse.

One person posted: “Help! Desperately need petrol, tank almost on empty! (Husband’s car- only enough to get to work two days this week). Does anyone have any ideas? The queue from Belmont Circle was up to Fisher Road before!”

Hundreds of motorists queue in Harrow overnight for petrol as fuel supply issue continues Harrow Online
Queues for petrol in North Harrow. Credit: Red Cup Café

Another person posted via the Harrow Online Group on Facebook: “Current situation at Pinner Green. Queue for the Shell Garage is blocking the junction and tails back to past West end lane and as far back as the singles on Uxbridge Road. 6.28am Sunday Morning.”

A Downing Street spokesperson said: “We have ample fuel stocks in this country and the public should be reassured there are no shortages.

“But like countries around the world we are suffering from a temporary Covid-related shortage of drivers needed to move supplies around the country.

“We’re looking at temporary measures to avoid any immediate problems, but any measures we introduce will be very strictly time-limited.

Hundreds of motorists queue in Harrow overnight for petrol as fuel supply issue continues Harrow Online
People queuing in North Harrow as fuel crisis continues.

“We are moving to a high-wage, high-skilled economy and businesses will need to adapt with more investment in recruitment and training to provide long-term resilience.”

The EG Group, which has over 300 petrol stations in the UK has said that their £30 cap on petrol that was announced yesterday, will not apply to lorry drivers and emergency service vehicles.

A spokesperson said: “Due to the current unprecedented customer demand for fuel and associated supply challenges we have taken the decision to introduce a limit of £30 per customer on all of our grades of fuel.

“This excludes HGV drivers and emergency services due to their vital role at this time. “This is a company decision to ensure all our customers have a fair chance to refuel and to enable our sites to carry on running smoothly.

Hundreds of motorists queue in Harrow overnight for petrol as fuel supply issue continues Harrow Online
Esso in Wealdstone. Credit: Ravi Waghela

“We kindly ask everyone visiting our sites to treat our colleagues, supply chain partners and customers with respect during these very challenging times.

“All of EG Group’s UK sites remain open and operational to serve customers.”