MOTORISTS staged a re-run of the fuel crisis at the Safeway petrol station yesterday (Thursday).

The station was forced to close early yesterday afternoon after queues from 6.30am emptied supplies. The station was due to re-open again last night following a new delivery. The rush was blamed on panic buying.

Limited rationing was also brought in at the Texaco garage in Malvern Wells for part of yesterday, until a tanker delivery in the afternoon.

A spokesman said up to eight or nine cars were waiting to get into the station and that many customers were putting in large amounts of petrol.

The latest panic comes as Chancellor Gordon Brown prepares to publish his pre-Budget statement next week, which will outline the Government's response to fuel protests.