Energy Secretary Edward Davey has defended his advice to drivers to refuel regularly which sparked panic buying at petrol stations ahead of a threatened fuel strike.

The Kingston and Surbiton MP added to conflicting messages from ministers last week when he told people to do the "sensible thing" and "get a full tank of petrol not a half-tank".

Demand for petrol rose 172per cent on Thursday, March 29 and diesel by 77per cent according to independent retailer’s group RMI Petrol.

Tailbacks and soaring prices greeted drivers, some of whom were left fuming as they desperately drove around in search of fuel to let them go about their daily business, while others said they were not badly affected.

Speaking to the Surrey Comet today, Mr Davey said: "The government needed to increase awareness of the potential of a strike and there was a view that increasing reassurance in people’s cars and vehicles by encouraging them to fill up sensibly was the right strategy.

"The problem always is trying to do these things in a gradual way."

Gina Selby-Stocker, 45, visited four filling stations on Thursday before finding one that had not run dry.

The full-time carer said: "I am worried. I have a disabled child so I can’t be stranded."

Elise Brown, 30, a call centre worker was panicked as she was running out of fuel and faced a long wait to get petrol to ensure she made it on time to her night shift and job interview.

An Easter strike has already been ruled out and petrol stations are being refuelled but the backlog could leave some stations dry and could scupper the plans of Easter holiday makers.

Mr Davey said: "The good news is we have been actively urging people just to go about their travel in a normal way without being concerned.

"Demand has gone down dramatically and filling stations around Kingston have been replenished.

"There certainly has been a lot of hype. There were queues and I think that the big news is people are really aware of the potential of a strike and therefore will be planning in an informed way."

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.