PETROL stations across the borough were almost drained dry on Wednesday after motorists began panic-buying fuel in fear of a blockade at refineries by truck drivers and farmers.

By Wednesday lunchtime, the Tesco 24-hour garage at the Woodfields Retail Park was one of the few local garages still with supplies of unleaded petrol.

Diesel was still on offer at most petrol stations, however. Many garage forecourts were deserted and coned off as the tanks were emptied.

This was despite only a handful of protesters turning up at oil refineries on Wednesday at the start of a planned three-day demonstration, and Government reassurances that supplies would not be affected.

However, many drivers ignored such reassurances and queued for hours to fill up 'just in case'.

Deliveries to the Tesco garage, off Peel Way, had arrived as normal, and while staff had anticipated some problems with stock levels, they were still open for business on Wednesday. But others told a different story.

Neville Myers, manager of the Central Service Station in Bury Road, Radcliffe, said he was hoping that another delivery would arrive at his garage today after motorists had drained a week's supply of unleaded in just 36-hours.

He said: "It has been chaotic here over the past few days. People have been queing up and just panic-buying. We couldn't believe it. A lady from Stockport rang here on Tuesday to see if we had any unleaded left. She then drove across and filled up her tank, and then went back home!"

On Monday, streams of traffic began to form at petrol stations early in the day, and continued into the evening.

Staff at many of the forecourts had to put up signs and cones to tell drivers that unleaded petrol was unavailable.

Ramsbottom Service Station in Stubbins Lane had also been very busy. One staff member said: "We are expecting our next delivery on Thursday, but we only had our last one on Wednesday. People have been queueing up to fill up their tanks. People who might normally only spend £10 at a time have been filling up their tanks to the top just in case, which can be about £40 a time, and the big 4x4s take about £100 of fuel to fill up."

Staff at Walshaw Road Filling Station were still waiting for a delivery on Wednesday, after fuel failed to turn up on Tuesday. They were still able to offer diesel at the pumps but staff said the last few days had been chaotic.

Hooley Bridge Service Station, on Rochdale Old Road, was expecting its next delivery of unleaded petrol on Saturday but had 4,000 litres of diesel left on sale.

In the south of the borough, in Prestwich and Whitefield, there was a similar level of disruption.

However Paddock Service Station on Bury New Road, Prestwich, had maintained their petrol levels throughout the panic buying.

Manager Hanif Pate said: "We have had no problem here, and have not had to close at any point. We have had our deliveries and not run out of any fuel."

Kirkhams Service Station on Bury Old Road, had to shut for a few hours on Wednesday after fuel supplies were completely drained. Staff were expecting another delivery in the afternoon.

Heywood Road Service Station in Prestwich, had a delivery of unleaded petrol on Monday at 11.30am, but just 12 hours later had sold out.

Activists want fuel duty to be cut after a series of price rises, but say they will not blockade refineries. Fuel tankers appeared to be moving freely on Wednesday, and there were also no reported protests at fuel distribution centres in the North West.

Chancellor Gordon Brown has called for urgent measures and "concerted action" to tackle soaring oil prices. But he has ignored demands by the fuel lobby to cut duty.

Mr Bryan Roland, General Secretary of the National Private Hire Association, based in Silver Street, Bury, said: "I have had phone calls from across the country regarding this issue, but I have not yet heard from anyone who has said they are out of petrol and cannot work.

"Last time, when there was a blockade, and there were severe shortages, the Government gave us priority tickets. If the situation ends up the same again, we will be applying for those again."