Panic buying at petrol stations is fuelling long queues and frustrating waits across the borough.

Tailbacks and soaring prices are greeting drivers at petrol station forecourts as fears rise that fuel will run out during a threatened fuel strike.

People have been filling cars and jerry cans at the pumps following conflicting messages from ministers about how to deal with the impending strike.

A shop worker in B&Q New Malden said only a few jerry cans were left in store after panicked drivers rushed in to stock up.

Petrol stations which have run dry include Shell on Richmond Road, Esso on the A3 and Surbiton Hill Garage, in the Avenue, which ran out of petrol this morning and will be shut over the weekend, with their next deliveries expected on Monday and Tuesday.

A garage employee said: "Everyone has been panic buying but no one has got nasty or anything.

"We are just a small local independent garage and normally just have regulars but others have been coming, especially if they can’t get into the bigger ones."

Aerial footage from the BBC showed dozens of cars queuing along the A3 in New Malden for fuel at the Tesco Extra petrol station and drivers took to Twitter to vent their feelings.

James Estill posted: "Totally mental queues into Tesco petrol station in New Malden."

Vanessa Cullington posted: "Joining the petrol party at Tesco New Malden. I wish some of these people had practised on the self-serve machines once or twice before."

No strike has been finalised and petrol stations are being refuelled, although the backlog caused by panic buying could mean waits of two or three days for some stations.

Drivers are advised to purchase fuel as normal and authorities have issued warnings to people stock-piling fuel.

It is illegal to keep more than a two suitable metal containers, each of a maximum capacity of 10 litres, or two plastic containers, of a five-litre maximum capacity.

This applies to containers kept in a vehicle parked in the garage or on the driveway, but not to the internal fuel tank, and petrol should be kept in a lockable container in a shed or secure garage instead of residential properties.

What do you think of the petrol panic? Do you have any photos of cars queuing? Let us know below or email clarebuchanan@london.newsquest.co.uk.