FEARS of a fuel shortage triggered panic buying from drivers and long queues at petrol stations in Malvern this week.

Tuesday saw 200-yard tailbacks at Morrisons supermarket, on Roman Way, and a half-hour wait for fuel.

Sylvia Evans, from Hanley Swan, was in no doubt where the blame lay.

'I don't think the government will take any notice if there's another fuel protest, just like they didn't take any notice of the last one," she said. "We pay far too much fuel tax compared to other countries."

Maria Farley, from Barnards Green, was topping up her tank with her father in case of Wednesday's threatened blockade.

"Fuel tax in Britain is much too high and my dad's disabled, so he has to use his car to get around," she said.

In Upton, Countrywide garage ran dry on Tuesday and customers were forced to wait until Wednesday afternoon for a new fuel delivery. Lorries blocked entrances to the town's other petrol station, Pane's Regal Garage, on Tuesday.

Demonstrations were due to be staged from Wednesday to Friday, with refinery protests and motorway go-slows threatened. By Thursday, the mass protests had failed to materialise and it was business as usual at local petrol pumps.