The Shell hauliers’ strike is beginning to hit filling stations and looks set to get worse over the weekend.

Media reports suggest Shell garages are beginning to run dry of regular unleaded petrol and diesel with other stations also suffering selected shortages.

BusinessCar can confirm that some filling stations near its office in Kent have only higher-octane petrol available.

The hauliers, who are striking over pay, started their action this morning and are not scheduled to return to work until Tuesday, 17 June.

Although only Shell lorry drivers are striking, some drivers from other fuel companies are refusing to cross picket lines at refineries.

Government officials are urging motorists not to panic-buy fuel, claiming that if drivers behave normally there will not be a shortage of fuel.

The four-day strike went ahead after talks between the union Unite, representing the drivers, and the management of the haulage firms supplying Shell broke down last night.