Fuel has dried up at a petrol station near a busy dual carriageway after motorists rushed to fill their tanks ahead of a possible tanker strike.

Esso near the A13 in Barking was left without petrol for the second day running amid fears a tanker driver stoppage may not be averted.

Ford worker Sushil Bhatia, 50, pulled up at the Esso station in Ripple Road after trying to fill his tank at four forecourts near Dagenham.

He said: “This is outrageous. Yesterday I thought it was panic buying. Now I’m panicking myself.”

An Esso spokesman said: “Esso is doing all it can to maximise fuel supplies for customers. We have seen increased demand in some areas and it is possible that some sites may be temporarily out of one or two types of fuel for a short period.”

* Have you experienced shortages at stations in Barking and Dagenham? If so, call us on 020 8477 3824.