A cabinet minister has said that the fuel shortage is "stabilising" in most parts of the country, but industry experts disagree.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid said that the fuel situation was improving in many places and added that the military was being deployed as a precaution.
Speaking to Sky News, Mr Javid said: “I think it is right that as a precaution that the Government has asked the military to help.
“I think that is the right measure to take to make sure that people have all the confidence that they need.
“I think that will further stabilise the situation and give more confidence.”
But this morning the chairman of the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) has warned that the fuel shortages are actually getting worse in some parts of the country.
Brian Madderson said that the shortages remain a "really big problem" in some parts of the country, particularly in London and the South East.
Mr Madderson made his comments on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme. He said: “In London and the South East and possibly parts of eastern England, if anything it had got worse.”
He added that the military's support would help but warned it would only have a limited impact.
“This isn’t going to be the major panacea,” he said. “It’s a large help but in terms of the volume, they are not going to be able to carry that much.
“We do need a prioritisation of deliveries to filling stations – particularly the independent ones which are the neighbourhood retail sites – in London and the South East starting immediately.”
Once pumps are refilled, drivers can also expect price increases of between 1p to 3p a litre. The RPA said this was down to an increase in wholesale prices.
