MOTORISTS throughout the Vale and Cotswolds are being urged not to panic-buy petrol after fuel protests failed to disrupt supplies.

Queues started forming from mid-morning on Monday, and by Tuesday night supplies had run out at a number of garages but others said they were able to meet customers' needs and urged drivers not to panic.

Fuel protests at refineries were low-key and tankers were moving freely yesterday, easing fears of shortages.

The Evesham branch of Tesco, in Worcester Road, ran out of diesel at about 9pm on Tuesday, though unleaded petrol was still available despite the increased demand. Staff had to direct drivers onto the forecourt on Monday, when more than 20 cars at a time waited their turn, in a bid to prevent any trouble.

Senior staff member Emma Watkins said yesterday: "We had a delivery this morning, and we had to shut the forecourt at about 6.30 to let that in, but otherwise we have stayed open and have fuel."

The Texaco garage in Bidford ran out of unleaded petrol at 6pm on Tuesday, despite assurances from officials within the company that supplies were secure.

A spokesman said: "They are legally required to hold 4,000 litres in case of emergency but that does not help the motorist. There are still supplies of diesel, and a delivery is due on Thursday.

"There is no need to panic buy. Supply is good to all our service stations and there is plenty of petrol in our network."

Fears that the Abbey Garage in High Street, Pershore, would run out of petrol were not fulfilled. On Tuesday cashier Norma Solomon warned that if the panic which started on Monday continued they would only "see the day out", but yesterday confirmed that petrol was still available.

And Marion Summers, who manages the Cheltenham Road Service Station in Evesham as well as another in Cheltenham, said that the situation was different in bigger towns.

"Cheltenham Road is not particularly busy and we do have fuel. Last night was busy, but not manic and certainly not as bad as it is in Cheltenham, and now it's almost like normal. It will be nice when people stop panic buying because they are creating a bigger problem."

Fiona Smith, manager of Fosseway service station in Lower Slaughter, said that as queues formed for both diesel and unleaded there were heated words between customers as some took longer than others to fill up.

She said: "We're still serving petrol. We'll be OK with the diesel but unleaded will be tight. We are getting another tanker in on Thursday though."

The Quarry petrol station in Bourton-on-the-Hill ran out of diesel on Wednesday morning but a delivery was expected later in the day.

Employee John Stenhouse said: "On Tuesday we sold 50 per cent more petrol than we usually do in one day. We've noticed many customers are from out of town and have the attitude if they can't get to work they can't and will just have to deal with it if it gets to that point."