MOTORISTS were being asked to show patience as the chance to starting filling fuel tanks arrived with the first supplies to appear in the county in almost a week.

Petrol stations began to receive supplies for emergency service vehicles after blockades outside Kingsbury oil terminal, north Warwickshire, were lifted yesterday.

Commercial sales also started to ring through the tills at one Worcester petrol station, which was able to open its forecourt to the general public.

"We had another delivery and we're allowing the public to fill up with £20 of petrol," said Angela Richens, manager of Lower Wick's Jet service station.

"If people are running out of petrol, then fair enough. But if you're just topping up please be patient, we're expecting another delivery tomorrow."

Malvern Link services also began to provide fuel for the general public.

Until 11am today, stocks were restricted to emergency vehicles, but commercial sales were expected to be running after that.

"We're going to limit the amount to £10 initially," said manager Janet Jones. "But, if we hear that we're going to have another delivery in the next 24 hours, we might lift it.

"The phone's been going non-stop, everyone wants to know when they can get petrol."

The Lower Wick station was one of the first filling stations to receive fuel for specified vehicles yesterday.

Doctors, nurses, home helps, funeral directors, and telecom engineers were among those allowed to top up tanks.

Gas and electrical engineers, school buses, and transport for the elderly and disabled were also priority cases.

Worcester's Henwick Road Elf service station received a delivery of fuel for emergency services yesterday but was not

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From P1 / 6 expecting any commercial supplies until tomorrow at the earliest.

"We're going to put a compensation claim into Elf," said manager Catherine Little. "We've had to pay our staff, but we haven't had any income."

The service station was one of seven garages in Herefordshire and Worcestershire named as the first to receive fuel under the Liquid and Gaseous Fuel Order 2000.

The others were Leominster Services, Mill Street, Leominster; Malvern Link Service Station, Malvern; Elf Viaduct services, Worcester Road, Kidderminster; Elf Kidderminster Services, Worcester Road, Kidderminster; Total Services in Worcester Road, Droitwich, and Total Marlgrove Superstop, Bromsgrove.

Rationing of food has been lifted by Sainsbury's in Blackpole, but staff said they would re-introduce the measures if customers started to panic-buy.