EMERGENCY services staff will be able to fill up with fuel at a Worcester petrol station today following a delivery.

Lower Wick's Jet station was due to open between 1pm and 4pm for emergency staff to top up tanks.

Police escorted a tanker to the station at 6pm yesterday - one of the few to have broken through the blockade at the Kingsbury distribution centre, in north Warwickshire.

"It's been total chaos," said station manager Angela Richens. "We must stress that this fuel's only for members of the emergency services, such as doctors, nurses and care workers.

"Police will be checking identification to make sure that none is sold to the public.

"We're also able to provide fuel for school buses, gas and electrical engineers, funeral directors, telecom engineers and bus services for the disabled and elderly. With a bit of luck, we might see some normality in the next few days."

News of the delivery came amid rumours in Worcester that petrol earmarked for emergency services could have been sold to the public.

One station worker, who asked not to be named, claims a nurse told him that stocks had dried up overnight at an un-named station.

Elsewhere, people have been able to fill their tanks at one Droitwich service station, though staff have now switched off the pumps.

The A438 station has been opening its forecourt to the public for up to three hours a day. But dropping reserves will now only be available to the emergency services.

"We've been trying to give the local community a chance to buy petrol," said Janet Newbury, of the Paul Newbury Texaco station. "Some have been extremely grateful and pleasant, but we've now had to shut so that nurses and doctors can get fuel."

The blockades outside the Kingsbury distribution centre were called off at 10am today, but it was not known when commercial deliveries could be resumed.

Pickets bowed to pressure from other protesters, who lifted blockades at several refineries across the country this morning.