PETROL stations across Tynedale have seen queues at forecourts as drivers rush to get petrol.

Drivers experienced long queues at Co-op Prudhoe to fill their cars.

It comes as the AA has told drivers not to “fill up outside of their normal routines”.

BP revealed on Thursday it has been forced to close a number of petrol stations across the UK amid the ongoing shortage of HGV drivers.

Ministers faced fresh pressure to ease immigration rules as an emergency measure to attract HGV drivers from overseas amid warnings that 100,000 more were needed across the industry.

Now, drivers are being urged by the Government to “buy fuel as normal”, after the lorry driver shortage hit supplies.

A government spokeswoman said: “There is no shortage of fuel in the UK, and people should continue to buy fuel as normal.

“We recognise the challenges facing industry and have already taken action to increase the supply of HGV drivers, including streamlining the process for new drivers and increasing the number of driving tests.

“We continue to closely monitor labour supply and work with sector leaders to understand how we can best ease particular pinch points.”

The AA has said that most of the UK's forecourts are working as they should, with president Edmund King saying: "There is no shortage of fuel and thousands of forecourts are operating normally with just a few suffering temporary supply chain problems.

"Fridays and the weekend always tend to be busier on forecourts as drivers either combine filling up with shopping runs, prepare for weekend trips or refuel for the start of the new working week.

"Drivers should not fill up outside their normal routines because, even if the occasional petrol station is temporarily closed, others just down the road will be open."