PANIC-BUYING of petrol has led to traffic chaos in Wrexham.
People have been out in force filling their petrol tanks amid fears that refineries will be blockaded and stocks will run low.
As the Wrexham Mail went to press, protests were due to be staged yesterday (Wednesday, September 14).
The protests are being held in light of increases in fuel duty, causing spiralling petrol prices.
Chancellor Gordon Brown has called for oil producing countries to boost production and lower prices, but groups of farmers, hauliers and other motorists have planned to stage a similar protest to those held in 2000.
Motorists fearing the worst took to the petrol pumps on Monday and Tuesday and there were long queues at many Wrexham garages.
Rhostyllen Service Station was completely sold out of petrol after cars queued down the road, around the roundabout and on to the bypass.
Assistant manager Stephen Jones said: 'We sold 60,000 litres of petrol, I had to serve people out on the forecourt with a carrier bag full of money, just to keep the traffic from blocking the roads.
'But we're still receiving tankers and it's business as usual.'
Dave Dawson, manager at the Shell garage on Mold Road, said: 'I just can't imagine people carrying on buying fuel at this rate. Last night was particularly busy; we're just gritting our teeth and bearing it.'
Traffic was also tailed back near the busy Tesco and Asda supermarkets.
A spokesman for Tesco said: 'We were busy, but not unexpectedly so. There are no problems with our supply of fuel.'
Extra petrol tankers have been drafted in to garages in the area to make sure they can cope with the high demand for fuel.
