Twenty years since fuel protests across the country including Lancashire

Lancashire came to a standstill 20 years ago as petrol bosses admitted they were “down to selling fumes” in the fuel crisis which gripped the country.
Tractors and farmers protesting over the fuel crisis in Lancaster.Tractors and farmers protesting over the fuel crisis in Lancaster.
Tractors and farmers protesting over the fuel crisis in Lancaster.

The North West became the worst hit region for petrol shortages as demonstrations near the biggest two distribution centres hit supplies.

Panicking motorists caused chaos on the roads into Lancaster as they queued to fill up their cars. Traffic was brought to standstill on the A6 into the city as lines of waiting cars spilled into the main commuter route.

Some fuel stations ran out of petrol completely.

No fuel at the BP garage on the A6 Scotforth, Lancaster.No fuel at the BP garage on the A6 Scotforth, Lancaster.
No fuel at the BP garage on the A6 Scotforth, Lancaster.
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Protesters hung banners up at the roundabouts entering the city centre to promote their campaign to demand fuel price cuts. Lancaster’s business bosses appealed to the government to take action and implement a temporary reduction in fuel duty in a bid to stabilise prices - and end the chaos.

Protests began outside a fuel distribution depot in Trafford Park, Manchester, and Europe’s biggest oil refinery, the Shell complex in Stanlow, Cheshire, which had been blockaded since the tail end of the previous week in a protest against Government taxes on fuel.

The scare led to panic buying, with motorists even filling their own containers with extra supplies.