SERVICE stations were running dry today as panic swept through county motorists worried about national blockades of petrol depots.

Drivers panic buying were filling up faster than fuel could be replaced and long queues formed outside petrol stations.

Emergency service leaders fear they could be grounded if supplies dry up. Ambulance drivers are being told to keep tanks above three-quarters full.

"We're trying to sort things out with petrol stations at the moment to make sure we can soldier on," said ambulance duty control manager Keith Douglas.

Seven of Hereford and Worcester Fire Brigade's stations stock fuel, but there are fears it could run out.

"Our out-stations rely on fuel cards, and if they can't get fuel from petrol stations they'll have to go to their nearest station with stock, which will dry our stocks up faster," said Nigel Smith, foreman at the fire brigade workshop in Worcester.

Hauliers and farmers are blockading major fuel depots in the north west, Essex, Bristol and Cardiff in protest over mounting fuel costs.

The Jet station in Lower Wick, Worcester, was likely to run dry today.

"People are panic buying," said manager Angela Richens. "Everyone is filling their tanks right up. We haven't got a delivery until tomorrow but we'll run out of unleaded by this lunchtime. Everything's going to grind to a halt."

A one-way system was in operation at the Elf garage in Hylton Road and traffic was backing up in both directions.

"I'm topping up because I'm getting a bit worried about the situation," said motorist Elizabeth Byatt, from Hallow. "I'm just back from holiday but everyone seems to be panicking."

Another driver said he was filling up completely.

"I want to make sure my wife has enough petrol," he added.

There was also chaos on the forecourt of the Sunny Lodge BP station in Malvern.

"The crisis is causing chaos," said Tim Burns, proprietor of four Texaco stations, including the Commandery service station in Worcester.

"Our site at Ledbury Road, Hereford, is completely dry and the Texaco in Malvern ran out yesterday, but we managed to get a delivery.

"If the demand keeps up they'll be going dry. It's a situation we'll be keeping our eye on hour-by-hour."

The majority of stations in Worcester are supplied by a distribution centre in Tamworth. So far this has been unaffected by blockades.

"I've been trying to ring them all morning to see if we'll get our delivery tomorrow," said Mrs Richens, of the Lower Wick station. But I think everyone else is doing the same."