Motorists have continued to panic-buy petrol, causing chaotic scenes at some garages yesterday, as it emerged that talks over the tanker drivers' dispute will not be held before Monday.

The conciliation service Acas said its officials have been in contact with the Unite union and seven distribution companies involved in the row in a bid to convene a meeting and head off the threat of industrial action.

That process should be concluded by Monday and substantive discussions should follow shortly afterwards, Acas announced.

The move followed news that increased sales of fuel from panic-buying by motorists yesterday will bring in more than £32 million in extra fuel excise duty.

The AA calculated the figure after petrol sales shot up by 81 per cent and diesel by 43 per cent as motorists flocked to garages across the UK to fill up following advice from ministers.

The Petrol Retailers’ Association, which represents about 5,500 garages, blamed advice from the Government on keeping tanks topped up, including the much-criticised call by Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude to fill up jerry cans.

Panic-buying was reported across the UK, leading to long queues outside some garages and “sold out” or “food only” signs greeting car drivers.

A motorist in Ilkley, Yorkshire, was asked to leave the forecourt of one garage after he snatched the pump out of the hand of a female driver, an eyewitness said.

One van driver in Leeds said he had been waiting for 30 minutes to get fuel while in Harrogate a forecourt on the outskirts of the town had run out of fuel by 11.30am.

Retail store Halfords reported high sales of fuel cans. Sales of all cans have soared by 225 per cent compared with this time last year, with motorists buying in “the thousands”, while sales of jerry cans are up by more than 500 per cent.

If you have experienced difficulties filling up with fuel, or know of any stations that have run dry, please contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@thepress.co.uk or 01904 567131.