Panic over the petrol crisis is beginning to ease in Buckinghamshire as some tankers start to get through to garage forecourts.

A few tankers beat the blockades yesterday to fill some of the near-empty pumps at South Bucks garages after the Prime Minister promised a speedy solution to the petrol crisis.

But the forecourts are quickly running dry again and panic-buying is causing grid-lock on the roads as motorists queue to fill up.

In Marlow last night, police were called to direct traffic as a tanker bound for the Esso service station on the Little Marlow Road, which is ear-marked as a priority station, struggled to get through.

But, despite spending up to an hour-and-a-half in queues, motorists all came out in support of the protest, calling on the Government to bring down prices.

The manager at the Esso station, Laurence Andrews, said he expected his supply to run out by 1pm today (Thurs) and did not know when he would receive more fuel.

He said of the crisis: "Customers have remained very good humoured throughout. Personally I support the action of the hauliers.

"We are a priority garage so the utmost will be done to keep us in fuel, there are no blockades at the West London Terminal which supplies us."

Shelves in supermarkets and newsagents in the area have also been hit by frenzied buying with many running out of bread, milk and other perishables shortly after deliveries.

A Waitrose spokesman said: "As well as bread and milk there has been a heavy demand for tinned and dried foods. At the moment we are getting supplies but that may change over the next few days."

Schools in the area are still operating normally but some have warned parents that they may be forced to close next week if teachers cannot get to school through lack of fuel.

Clive Ricks, headmaster at Great Marlow School in Bobmore Lane, warned that they may be forced to take action if the situation does not improve by Tuesday.

He said: "We have had an emergency supply available to staff this week and coaches have not told us they can't get here. But if things do not improve there are concerns about staff and seven or eight coach loads of kids getting here."

Emergency service chiefs have assured worried members of the public that essential duties will not be affected by the petrol shortage, but warned that it was only a matter of time before workers run out and find it impossible to get to work.

For an in-depth report on the petrol crisis, see Friday's Bucks Free Press