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BP is limiting fuel supplies to forecourts to “ensure continuity of supplies”. As there are fewer drivers to transport fuel from refineries, the energy giant said tens of forecourts in its 1,200-strong network were experiencing shortages while rival Esso said a small number of its sites were affected.

BP’s Head of UK Retail, Hanna Hofer, warned that it was important the Government understood the “urgency of the situation”.

Ms Hofer says BP currently only has “two thirds of normal forecourt stock levels required for smooth operations” and that level is “declining rapidly”.

This would force BP to run 80 percent of service levels to its open forecourt network.

Forecourts on motorways will be prioritised and will be restocked as normal.

BP does not employ any HGV drivers directly as it outsources deliveries to Hoyer, an independent haulier.

The fuel giant has around 45 drivers coming through in training but the company is also experiencing high rates of attrition ‑ as in the week beginning September 6, 10 drivers joined and six left.

Last night, BP stressed that it was hopeful that fuel stocks at forecourts will stabilise and start to rebuild in October.

Ms Hofer said: “We are expecting the next few weeks to be really, really difficult”.

There are around 1,200 BP petrol stations around the UK, of which 300 are operated by BP themselves. Only “a handful”, such as one in Worcester have shut.

As the driver shortage crisis rumbled on, the food and farming sector implored the Government to take urgent action to alleviate labour shortages.

The nation is currently short of around 100,000 drivers, haulage experts say.

Head of the National Farmers’ Union, Minette Batters, has written to the Prime Minister telling him the sector is on a “knife edge”.

The letter, signed on behalf of 12 food and drink trade bodies, urged the Government to introduce a Covid-19 recovery visa to open up new recruitment opportunities as a matter of urgency.

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