[1][2] Although no strike took place, Government action precipitated panic-buying and a woman was seriously injured after following a minister's advice to store extra petrol.
They were also concerned that outsourcing in the haulage industry had triggered relentless pressure on cutting costs, with firms like Asda, Shell and Esso all contracting out their deliveries to low-quality rivals.
[2] The Unite Union's rep's argued that the outsourcing in the haulage industry has triggered relentless pressure on cutting costs, with firms likes of Asda, Shell and Esso all contracting out their deliveries to low quality rivals.
The group's chairman, Brian Madderson told the BBC: "We have had no word from the Department of Energy and Climate Change whatsoever.
[12] The shadow transport secretary, Maria Eagle, warned of a danger of panic fuel buying, as did the AA after the government urged motorists to be ready for a strike-induced shortage.
[14] Other forecourts had introduced 'minimum spend' rules of £35, to try to prevent motorists who have a half-full tank from filling up again, as well as to turn an extra profit in a time of crisis.
[14] That morning David Cameron told a press conference that the fuel tanker drivers' strike has no justification and was part of a supposed Labour party plot to undermine his government.
[16] The Aintree forecourt attendant Farhaan Mohammed, 21, said expected petrol to have run out by the end of trading and that there was no guarantee from Esso of more fuel.
[11] The Texaco garage in Telscombe Cliffs ran out of fuel and customers began rowing outside the petrol station at Asda in Hollingbury after accusations of queue jumping, as the stretched from the forecourt in to Carden Avenue.
[18] Taxi drivers reported long petrol queues in Clarence Place, Corporation Road and parts of Maindee in Newport.
[19] That morning, Crawley's MP, Henry Smith said to the local newspaper's reporters that he supported the Government was right to warn people to prepare for a potential fuel strike,[11] backed up France's Maude's advice (despite criticism that it caused panicked queues of spooked drivers and shortages at several petrol pumps).
[11] He also condemned the Labour Party's funding by the Trades Unions and accused the tanker drivers of being "lazy fat cats".
[11] Later, the Government and national media went on to claim that the panic buying had led to an incident in which a woman from Moorgate, in Acomb,[22] near York was badly burned at home, when petrol ignited as she transferred it between containers in her kitchen on 30 March.
[28] The government told people via the Department for Energy and Climate Change web page to stop panic buying after the Unite union ruled out a strike over Easter.
[29] A Cornish garage even refused to serve anyone who was "not local" after the owner decided to turn away holidaymakers in favour of regular customers and account holders as supplies in Cornwall began to dry up.
Some afternoon queues and shortages at the petrol stations in Leeds, Tonbridge in Kent, Egham, Bromley in south-east London, Finchampstead in Berkshire and St Albans.
[30] Several Labour MPs have also called for the resignation of the Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude over comments he made advising storing petrol in jerrycans.
[33] The RMI chairman, Brian Madderson, warning of a repeat of the previous week's fuel panic if talks failed.
[34] A conference of 60 oil tanker drivers Unite's London headquarters rejected the proposals made by fuel distributors.
[38] An AA statement said: "A lady about 75 was seen filling up 20 empty one-gallon paint tins with plastic lids and also a tray of jam jars in her boot with petrol".
[17][18][20][39] Firefighters were called to deal with a fuel spillage after a car was overfilled with petrol in Deerswood Road, Crawley, West Sussex.
[17][18][20][39] Firefighters were called to deal with a fuel spillage after a motorist was ejected from a garage because he had snatched the pump out of the hand of an elderly driver.