A FORMER mayor of Andover has called on fuel stations in the town to allocate specific pumps to key workers amidst the current petrol pani-buying.

Cllr Richard Rowles told the Advertiser that his main concern surrounding the issue is medical workers not being able to reach hospitals.

“I know a few people who are nurses, for example, who have struggled to get fuel,” he said.

“Ambulances have to fill up somewhere, and if NHS workers can’t get into hospitals, well if someone stocking up has their child in hospital and there’s no staff they’ll soon realise the impact.”

He continued: “I think what local petrol stations should do is have two pumps that only people who present their NHS or emergency services ID can use.

“And probably taxis as well, because many older people rely on taxis to get their shopping and things like that.”

Cllr Rowles said he has not fille dup during the period of concern over fuel deliveries, but said he is lucky to also have a petrol for his garden strimmer which he will be able to use if needed.

However, he called on Andover residents to “keep calm and carry on as usual”, adding: “It’s all totally unnecessary, it’s ridiculous.

“What the government should have done is what they should have done during Covid as well. They should have straight away instructed supermarkets and petrol stations to only hand out £30, to stop panic buying.

“But as a country we are not very good at being prepared for a crisis, whether that’s a storm or cold weather! “

The panic buying of petrol shows no sign of ending, retailers have warned, as filling stations in many parts of the country continue to run dry.

Long queues were again reported outside stations which were open, after the Government announced it was putting the Army on standby in an effort to ensure supplies were maintained.

The oil companies have said they expect the pressure on forecourts to ease in the coming days, with many cars carrying more fuel than usual.