THE petrol panic that grabbed the country spread to Newton and Golborne.

Pumps ran dry and tempers frayed on forecourts as the prospect of another fuel blockade loomed.

"It's been mad busy!" said manager Siva Prem, of the Murco station in Market Street, Newton. It started on Monday and everything was gone by 10.30am on Tuesday.

"We sold five days worth in one day. The queue was half-a-mile down Crow Lane West!"

The Total station in Mill Lane sold 13,000 litres on Monday when it would normally sell 8,000.

"It was chock-a-block," said a staff member, "They were all down the road on both sides."

The station ran out at 8pm on Monday and was empty on Tuesday until fresh supplies arrived on Wednesday morning.

Most people used the pumps calmly but one customer got angry with staff when he tried to use an out of order pump.

The Texaco on the East Lancs Road was also busy but the manager was not available for comment when the Newton and Golborne Guardian called.

Anyone trying petrol stations in north Warrington found they were heaving too.

The Fuel Lobby did not carry out planned blockades on Wednesday but by then the media-driven panic buying had created shortages as stations cried out for refills.

Chris Hunt, director general of the UK Petroleum Industry Association, told the Newton and Golborne Guardian: "The speculation is that any protests will be low key but we are preparing anyway.

"Measures are in place with Cheshire Constabulary to ensure that there's a free movement of product from Stanlow refinery.

"We will not be accepting blockades at the terminals."

A Cheshire police spokesman said: "Long-standing plans are in place to deal with peaceful protests."