THE chaos on the roads began on Sunday when the demonstration began to feature on the news, which sparked panic buying among motorists.

Simon Woodings, press officer for the AA in the Midlands, said roads were jammed in Monday's evening rush hour in particular.

After the rush, however, drivers went home and stayed there in a bid to conserve supplies. When the crisis worsened, some people began to hoard supplies in readiness for food shortages.

By Tuesday teatime, there was barely a loaf of bread or pint of milk to be found in Stratford.

Emergency services are, at the moment, coping. Assistant chief constable of Warwickshire, Mick Brewer, said it was "business as usual" for the force as it had its own supply of fuel and arrangements for replenishing stocks. Fire and ambulance services have not made any changes to arrangements so far.

Everything was as normal at Stratford and Warwick hospitals yesterday afternoon, although director Peter Tolhurst said the situation could change at any given moment.

However, all operations and outpatients'activities have not been affected as yet.

"We have set up a control centre to deal with changes or problems that occur because of the crisis," Mr Tolhurst said. Warwickshire County Council has stressed to schools that they must do their level best to stay open during the crisis. So far, Stratford High School, Stratford Grammar School for Girls and King Edward VI have faced no problems.

However, bus company Stagecoach, which runs school buses as well as public transport has warned that school services are set to stop tomorrow (Friday) because of a lack of diesel.

Jeremy Slater-Brown, secretary of the Station Taxi Drivers' Association for Stratford, said he was down to his last few drops of petrol and most drivers were in the same boat. He said some of the larger companies had access to their own pumps, but smaller cab firms could soon be pushed off the road.

Councils have asked staff to think carefully how they travel to work to ensure staff are available. The county's social services team is working as usual with social education and day centres guaranteed to be open until the end of today (Thursday).