BP petrol stations closed across UK as lorry driver shortage hits fuel deliveries

BP has closed several of its petrol stations across the UK due to the ongoing shortage of HGV drivers.

The British oil giant will limit deliveries to stations across the UK to stop petrol supplies running out.

The situation looks "bad, very bad", BP's head of UK retail Hannah Hofer told ITV.

She also advised the Government to heed the "urgency of the situation".

Ms Hofer said the petrol giant was down to two thirds of the "normal forecourt stock levels" needed to ensure "smooth operations."

She added this level of stock is "declining rapidly". It's currently unknown how long stations will be unable to operate.

Have you been unable to buy fuel at a BP station? Get in touch: webnews@mirror.co.uk

Though "very soon" some service stations will not be restocked for one-and-a-half days each week, motorways will be prioritised and restocked as normal (Derby Telegraph)

BP will "very soon" stop supplying several stations with petrol for 36 hours each week.

The company's plan for the low stock involves providing 80% of normal service to 90% of stations.

Reports say motorway service stations will take priority and be restocked as normal.

The UK is facing a severe shortage of lorry drivers following an exodus of drivers from EU countries, who returned to the continent during the pandemic and stayed there.

This is coupled with the health crisis bringing DVLA testing centres to a standstill, creating a huge backlog of drivers taking their HGV test.

The stock level lows come as Britain faces a severe shortage of HGV drivers (FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

The PA news agency had understood that proposals had been floated for the Government to bring forward the review so HGV drivers could be included to ease the problems facing the supply chain.

But according to the Financial Times, Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng wrote to business leaders on Friday saying foreign labour only offered "a short-term, temporary solution".

An example of the severity of the shortage came last week when Iceland was forced to cancel 250 store deliveries each week.

This is a 15% fall in the normal level of deliveries, and is happening because Iceland has vacancies for 100 drivers.

Iceland managing director Richard Walker said: "Nationwide, the UK is currently short of at least 100,000 HGV drivers – the truckers we all rely on to keep us supplied with our food and other daily needs.