EMERGENCY services, schools and other Wyre Forest groups breathed a huge sigh of relief after the fuel crisis which threatened to cripple the district passed with little disruption.

The petrol and diesel shortage did cause confusion at Hartlebury First School, which had announced it would close on Friday. It opened after teachers and parents arranged lift shares to get children to school.

Sport was hit by the crisis, with all weekend matches in the Stourport and District Football League cancelled.

Kidderminster Harriers were able to stage their Nationwide League encounter with Leyton Orient and Stourport Swifts team had enough fuel in the tank to fulfil their FA Cup fixture at Atherstone United.

The fire brigade shared some of its fuel with the ambulance service, but by Friday emergency services were given priority access to fuel which allowed crews to top up.

The district's main bus service, First Midland Red, was able to operate a full network during the week across Wyre Forest, though commercial manager Austin Birks said the district was "days away" from being hit.

Train services to and from Kidderminster Station were also unaffected.

Wyre Forest District Council did suspend non-essential services as a precaution, but they have now been resumed and are expected to be running fully again by the weekend.

Communications officer Nick Lewis said: "We would have been able to continue providing essential services for about a further 10 days before the situation eased."

The Royal Mail postal service reduced collections and deliveries to one a day on Friday and Saturday but was back to normal on Monday.

A Kidderminster petrol station managed to remain open as normal for its customers during the week-long saga.

And Foley Park Garage manageress Esther Robinson said no police presence was required at the Stourport Road site to co-ordinate vehicles, which had been commonplace at many stations elsewhere.

She added: "We have received thank-you cards and letters from the public as we only had to ration fuel on one morning and afternoon and ran out of lead replacement petrol on just one day."

Meanwhile, West Mercia Police yesterday laughed off reports the fuel protests had resumed and urged drivers not to panic buy following the false rumour.

Several forecourts in Kidderminster and Stourport were busy on Tuesday as rumours the blockades had resumed spread.