"Carry On As Normal": UK Urges Public Calm Over Shut Fuel Stations

Reports said with the coronavirus pandemic and Brexit triggering an ongoing crisis in the haulage industry.

The UK government on Friday urged the public against panic-buying as some petrol stations closed pumps due to a lack of lorry drivers to deliver fuel.

Tabloid newspaper The Sun headlined its front page "We're running on empty", with the coronavirus pandemic and Brexit triggering an ongoing crisis in the haulage industry.

But Transport Secretary Grant Shapps insisted there was no fuel shortage and the government was taking steps to recruit more drivers.

"The advice would be to carry on as normal," Shapps told Sky News after a number of UK petrol stations run by BP and ExxonMobil-owned Esso were forced to close to customers.