Tankers beat the blockades today to fill some of the near-empty pumps in South Buckinghamshire after the Prime Minister promised a solution to the petrol crisis within 24 hours.

There has been gridlock on the streets throughout the area for days as motorists have queued for hours to panic-buy petrol. But the tankers have finally started leaving the depots and some local garages received deliveries overnight.

The Hazlemere Crossroads Service Station in Amersham Road, Hazlemere, in High Wycombe, received a full tanker of unleaded petrol this morning (Wed), but manager David Corsby said it was only expected to last a few hours because of the rush by motorists to fill their tanks.

Mr Corsby said: "One tanker got here this morning at around 7am and it has been one constant queue since then. We will have run out by lunchtime."

Emergency service chiefs have assured worried members of the public that essential duties will not be affected by the petrol shortage.

Prime Minister Tony Blair promised to have the tankers rolling on Tuesday after protesters set up pickets outside petrol refineries to protest against the hikes in the price of petrol by the Labour Government over recent months.

See Friday's Bucks Free Press for in-depth reports on how the crisis has affected the area.